FAO holds dialogue on Current Fertilizer Policy in Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: (APP) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and U.S. Department for Agriculture (USDA) organized a dialogue on "Current Fertilizer Policy" here.
The fertilizer policy in Pakistan needs a review and the current fertilizer policy that was in forced in Pakistan is of the year 2001.
This dialogue was a part of an ongoing effort by USDA and FAO for soil fertility management and promoting sustainable agricultural intensification in Pakistan, said a statement issued here on Thursday.
This dialogue brought together approximately 40 participants from the agricultural research, extension and information organizations, private sector agricultural services and fertilizer companies, Harvest-Plus, farmers associations, International Potash Institute-Switzerland, Academia and Planning Commission.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Nadeem Amjad, Chairman PARC highlighted the imbalance in fertilizer use and said that high fertilizer prices are the major constraints to achieve high crop yield.
He emphasized that 4R nutrient stewardship can help to decrease the cost of production and enhance nutrient use efficiency.
However, we need inter-related comprehensive fertilizer and integrated nutrient management policies at provincial level, he added.
Dr. Waqar Ahmad, Soil / NRM Expert- FAO said that last year, FAO invited proposals from all the stakeholders including major national fertilizer companies and farmers' associations over the current fertilizer policy.
Through this consultative process, a draft document would be prepared and shared with the government for consideration.
The experts said that since 2001, a number of variables related to the fertilizer policy have changed.
Farmers' perspective needs to be included as well. A significant yield gap exists between potential and the actual yields in Pakistan.
This gap in yield can be filled through balanced use of fertilizers.
The shortage of fertilizer and its spiraling cost are the determinants of the imbalanced use of fertilizers.
A sound farmer-friendly fertilizer policy could play a vital role in the sustainable agriculture, they added.
