Lahore: The Punjab Agriculture Policy 2018 will prioritise small commercial farmers (SCFs), a news source reported. This measure will help to mobilise the maximum capacity of the sector, and reduce poverty in rural areas.
Previously, the provincial government lent support to farmers owning less than 15 acres of land. The new policy will exempt farmers owning up to three acres of land. These field labourers will no longer receive the incentives or subsidy. Instead the policy will target SCFs, rural women, and youth. The aim is to ensure livelihood improvements at the grassroots level.
An expert analysis revealed that supporting SCFs with landholdings between 3 to 75 acres will produce far-reaching benefits. Meanwhile, the farmers with landholdings of up to three acres, which is below the level of sustenance, will benefit more from social protection initiatives.
The Punjab Agriculture Department developed the Punjab Agriculture Policy 2018 with assistance from USAID and the Punjab Enabling Environment Project (PEEP). The policy is aimed at ensuring food security and boosting agricultural productivity.
