PARC is a government organization that supports agricultural research in Pakistan. Its activities are conducted through in-house research establishments and countrywide research programs. In addition, it also conducts collaborative projects with national and international research organizations. These activities are supported by competitive grants under the Agricultural linkages program and PSDP. Its national agricultural research centre is located in Islamabad.
Efficiencies
Pakistan’s agriculture sector has long been the focus of agricultural organizations and researchers. The present study provides statistical information about the efficiency of the farm sector in Pakistan. It also examines regional and crop influences. It draws upon published research papers on the efficiency of Pakistan’s farm sector from 1971 to 2014. Three models are estimated separately: a methodological model, a crop specific model, and a provincial model. Each model incorporates the impact of methodological, regional, and crop-specific variables.
In Pakistan, water plays a vital role in food security. A majority of the food produced in the country comes from irrigated areas. About 95% of the country’s fresh water is used in agriculture. Yet, there are numerous challenges that affect this precious resource. Water scarcity, rising temperatures, and soil deterioration are threatening water availability and quality. As a result, water productivity has suffered. In response to these challenges, the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council has been conducting research to improve the use of water in agriculture. Its initial program focused on improving the efficiencies of on-farm irrigation and conserving land. Its first formal institute was established in 1991.
Efficiencies of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council is a multi-stakeholder partnership in enhancing the agricultural sector in Pakistan. Through this partnership, USDA is supporting the work of three institutes of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and 11 Pakistani institutions. The program focuses on improving soil health in Pakistan and collaborating with local institutions on watershed and irrigation improvements.
Another institute of the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council is the Climate, Energy, and Water Research Institute (CEWRI). The purpose of this institute is to develop strategies for the management of climate change, water resources, and alternative energy. For generations, South Asia has relied on dug wells for water, but increased production and technological advances have made it uneconomical. The institutes hope to change that.
Costs
In Pakistan, agricultural research has been under-funded for the past five decades. While agricultural research has a proven track record of improving food security and reducing poverty, Pakistan’s public investment in the field has lagged behind. In fact, Pakistan has the lowest agricultural R&D investment among developing nations. Compared to India, Pakistan only invests about $0.21 per $100 of agricultural output.
The agricultural sector in Pakistan is highly energy-intensive, generating nearly 11 109 tons of CO2 annually. In Punjab alone, irrigation requires about 103 PJ of energy and contributes 37% of EF. The energy used for deep and shallow groundwater pumps is responsible for another 21% of CO2 emissions. In Punjab and Sindh, rice and cotton are the most energy-intensive crops.
In Sindh, date farming is an important industry. The province produces about 60 percent of Pakistan’s date production. The Khairpur district alone accounts for 97 percent of the province’s production. The region is also a major date palm producer, producing 46 percent of the country’s total. In many areas of the country, date palm cultivation is recognized for its ecological value. In Pakistan, increasing resource-use efficiency is a critical issue for improving competiveness.
The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council is a federally funded program. The government would provide funding for the project in advance, and the provinces would take on the responsibility of accepting the staff. The program would expand its trial system to other crops. The government would accept seconded staff from other agencies. It would require provincial cooperation to implement the research programs and review the reports that come out of them.
Board of governors
The Board of Governors of the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council is responsible for the management and governance of the council. The Act 2007 vests general control of the Council in the Board of Governors. The Board is headed by the Federal Minister for Science & Technology. The Board also has a Federal Secretary as Deputy President, and includes representatives from various sectors of the country. The Board also has an Executive and Technical Committee that helps it make decisions. The Chairman is the chief executive officer of the Council, and also functions as the Secretary of the BoG.
Employees of the Council are covered by the Contributory Provident Fund Rules, 1966. The regulations are not less favorable for employees than those applicable to corresponding civil servants of the Federal Government. Employees at the Council have the right to appeal against deportation, dismissal, termination, or demotion, and to seek appropriate posting elsewhere.
Activities
The Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) conducts and supports research on different agricultural crops, livestock and environment. It collaborates with federal and provincial institutions for agricultural development. It also funds contract research projects and has a national network of scientists. The council also conducts National Uniform Yield Trials (NUYT) to test the yield potential of candidate varieties developed by provincial and federal breeders.
In 2014, the PARC signed an agreement with China’s Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The two sides have previously had successful collaborations, and this new agreement is expected to yield successful results in the fields of pest control and plant protection. This MoU is a significant step for Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
The PARC conducts research in close collaboration with provincial research institutes and universities. Its scientific staff also serves on governing bodies and technical committees of federal organizations. It also promotes agriculture and rural development through its participation in scientific events, publications and conferences. Further, PARC collaborates with agricultural universities and progressive farmers in the country.
The PARC has recently opened a demonstration site for agricultural research. This six-acre demonstration site, powered by a High-Efficiency Irrigation System, showcases water conservation techniques for agriculture. This modern irrigation technology replaces conventional irrigation techniques, diverting water to specific crop areas and reducing irrigation volume.
Pakistan’s agriculture is highly reliant on irrigation, which requires huge amounts of energy. Consequently, the country’s food and agriculture industries are facing a water scarcity issue. In addition to the energy and water use involved in irrigation, this also causes emissions of greenhouse gases. By reducing the demand for irrigation water, the PRC may contribute to global warming efforts.
Contributions
The study analyzes the contributions of agricultural research to the productivity of Pakistani crops using a production function approach. It finds that agricultural research and extension activities produce a marginal internal rate of return of about 36%, which is comparable to that of other countries. This high rate of return is consistent with the relatively low public expenditure on agricultural research and extension in Pakistan. However, the results indicate that agricultural productivity is still low.
In 2008, PARC established the PARC Institute of Advanced Studies in Agriculture (PARISA), which offers an exclusive postgraduate agricultural education. The institute has been affiliated with the University of Agriculture Peshawar and Quaid i Azam University Islamabad since 2010. The institute is committed to academic excellence and contributes actively to the development of human resource.
Collaborations with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) are an important part of Pakistan’s research agenda. The ACIAR aims to increase agricultural productivity in poor rural areas and promote food security. It collaborates with the government, provincial departments, NGOs and academia to support large scale development programs in Pakistan. The two countries have a long and beneficial research relationship.
Australia’s involvement in Pakistan’s agricultural research is an investment in the future of the country’s poor and vulnerable populations. Through its assistance, the country can improve the productivity of its farms and create new revenue streams for its farmers. This will result in improved nutrition, food security and the economic empowerment of women.
Agricultural productivity in Pakistan has declined in recent years. While the country’s GDP growth rate has accelerated, its agricultural GDP growth rate has been stagnant. The agricultural GDP per worker has fallen sharply since the 1990s. In the 2000-08 period, agriculture GDP growth rates per worker fell to 0.28 percent.
