Corporate farming by defence forces gets a jumpstart

KHANEWAL: The cutting-edge corporate agriculture farming Sunday got a jumpstart by the defence forces in a multi-billion dollar move, aiming to ensure national food security and tapping the export market.


“We launched a modern corporate farming project to take Pakistan’s agriculture to new height. Our main focus area has been import-substitution farming so that domestic production can eventually replace billions of dollar worth of imports,” said Maj Gen (Retd) Tahir Aslam, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FonGrow, a subsidiary of Fauji Foundation, which is spearheaded by defence institutions.

Aslam termed FonGrow a harbinger of completely mechanised, smart farming in the country as part of a flagship project of Green Pakistan Initiative, recently launched under the auspices of Pakistan Army at a function attended by the prime minister and Chief of the Army Staff.

He was talking to Lahore-based journalists during a media visit to the 2,250-acre site of country’s first corporate farm on Sunday, which is scheduled to be formally inaugurated by prime minister and Army Chief today (Monday).

Tahir said FonGrow was devolving a model that could be replicated by foreign investors at a later stage.

“We strive to expand corporate farms to 100,000 acres for cultivating wheat, cotton, oilseed crops, soybean and sesame in different districts of the country. The Green Initiative eyes corporate farming at one million acres of land by fostering partnership with various foreign and local players,” he added.

“We have set up this platform on the premise to achieve goal of reducing foreign dependency through enhanced local production. Our first trial of maize crop has yielded 20 percent more output than output of progressive farmers and that too with lesser use of water, fertiliser and other inputs.

“The establishment of FonGrow farm is truly the first step towards agricultural revolution. This is a one-of-a-kind agricultural system spread over 2,250 acres at Porowal which is planned to be expanded under a robust development plan in the next five years. It consists of mostly barren piece of land,” he said.

To a question, he made it clear that they were not against or competing with small-scale farmers. Rather, he claimed, this initiative would help introduce best farming practices at different levels.

Muhammad Zahid Aziz, Manager Farms, said the country’s agriculture needs to be expanded both horizontally and vertically with a view to increasing area under cultivation and enhancing per acre yield.

FonGrow is simultaneously targeting both these goals by employing resource conservation technology.

He said similar corporate farming in desert and semi-desert land in Bhakkar, Mankera and Layyah was also being launched.

Eng Mushtaq Ahmed Gill, Irrigation Consultant, said high efficiency agriculture had been the hallmark of FonGrow corporate farming where the center pivot irrigation made it possible to conserve water up to 90 percent.

It is sheer departure from conventional flood irrigation where most of water is lost before reaching the plants.

Corporate farming by defence forces gets a jumpstart

KHANEWAL: The cutting-edge corporate agriculture farming Sunday got a jumpstart by the defence forces in a multi-billion dollar move, aiming to ensure national food security and tapping the export...

www.thenews.com.pk

 

[Azadkashmir]

somebody should pour whisky on the crops and light it up.

 

[_NOBODY_]

if the private sector cant compete, thats on them. Sorry free market means competition.

In what universe is this free market?

 

[Mrc]

It's only free market if land is given to gogi

 

[salarsikander]

It's only free market if land is given to gogi

But I only see DHA, NHS, AHS, and ADH all given to Armed forces, and then they do commercial activity on military bases by renting out Public assets as SHadi Hals and what not - so in your case that is Free market ?

 

[EternalMortal]

Dude, you really need to get a life.

Har thread main, har topic main, you just bring in Imran Khan from out of nowhere.

Move on buddy.

These faujeets have completely lost it. They're scared to death of losing their control over the country so they lash out at Khan & tell blatant lies hoping that the awaam will stop supporting him.

It's only free market if land is given to gogi

Gogi is from a PMLN family so yes you may be onto something there. Generals giving out lollipops to their dimwit progeny.

 

[N.Siddiqui]

This will make the country truly a Banana Republic, they have started the corporate farming with Bananas, as they are going bananas.


An RPG developed by the mil.forces in the Banana Republic...with new corp. farming technique, doubles as an RPG.

 

[Great Janjua]

This is basically a scam to put small scale farmers and their land under this scheme basically turning every other poor rural farmer helpless in giving their land to these looters.

The main solution is to give farmers the incentives to buy equipment and latest machinery at a minimum price just like India did with its green Revolution.

What this so called corporative farms will do is knock off the poor rural low level farmers and rob them of their livelihood, essentially making them dependent on this whole sham of a farming scheme.


This is not how you uplift local food production but a good way to thug your in to it.

Bring about farmer laws in which you empower them not rob them of their livelihood, sick morons to hell with this shitty fauj and country.

 

[Meengla]

Eventually this if successful, will monopolize farm produce completely. As the small farmer when unable to compete, will give up their land to these Corporate firms. Not a bad plan if it succeeds, as Corporate farming yields are higher compared to traditional farming. Will be a masterstroke, as PA this way will control food and the gun.

Agreed.
And what is the Pakistani military anyway?? It is from the Pakistani population!!! The ruling elites of Punjab are only different by their choice of clothing! People here are criticizing this because the initiative is being made while Imran is not in power. That's the truth! Nothing good can ever be done in Pakistan by anyone unless Imran is in power. What a bunch of brainwashed zombies! I swear, I can even feel their disappointment that Pakistan has not defaulted and the economy has not totally tanked.

 

[ghazi52]

How it will translate to medium to high Land owner, the so called Jumpstart was on Fauji Foundation Land, they are doing on this for ages, just a drama, no civilian was there to participate.

 

[RoadRunner401]

Agreed.
And what is the Pakistani military anyway?? It is from the Pakistani population!!! The ruling elites of Punjab are only different by their choice of clothing! People here are criticizing this because the initiative is being made while Imran is not in power. That's the truth! Nothing good can ever be done in Pakistan by anyone unless Imran is in power. What a bunch of brainwashed zombies! I swear, I can even feel their disappointment that Pakistan has not defaulted and the economy has not totally tanked

Brain dead,Hillbilly,patwari ,countries rolling over their debt means you have no money to pay them back that's a default.

Borrowing Money to pay part of the interest on your debt means your economy have collapsed.

 

[Meengla]

Brain dead,Hillbilly,patwari ,countries rolling over their debt means you have no money to pay them back that's a default.
Borrowing Money to pay part of the interest on your debt means your economy have collapsed.

I didn't want to respond--generally I ignore the cultists but the choice of words 'Brain dead, hillbilly, Patwari' just made me laugh!!! How creative. Well, a 'Patwari' is still better than an 'Anarchist' and if you mean I am a 'hillbilly' because I live in the American rural South, then that's a badge of honor: The NY, CA, TX people are fleeing to us--not to speak of Canadians who have literally died in frigid waters coming to America.
But then what the hell the expats divorced from Pakistan's realities know? They are the Neroes playing flute watching AND wishing Pakistan burn. I bet a bunch the Clown Khan's cultists can't even read or write in Urdu.

But, no, technically Pakistan has not 'defaulted' and I believe Pakistan will not. The concerted efforts by the Americans, the Arabs, and the Chinese to prevent the 'default' means a lot--it is that, unlike Sri Lanka, which defaulted with horrible, visible consequences--there are countries who don't want Pakistan to default and no doubt for their own interests. But what's the harm in that for Pakistan?? Or should the Pakistan govt say 'Absolutely Not!' to convince the Cultists of the Clown Khan??
Oh well.
Here is a related video by a mature anchor. One feature of the emerging economic setup in Pakistan is that, to pull Pakistan out of the current mess, it is going to be a brutal form of capitalism, guaranteed by the Pakistani military, being introduced. No courts of law would be allowed to meddle.

 

[FuturePAF]

A SOE by another name. What’s the incentive to perform? Is this going to perform on real capitalist basis? They are going have to be honest with themselves on running any effort on a meritocratic basis. If we fail to be efficient and maximize our growth potential due to hiring on anything but meritocracy, we will be sell our projects short and be earning less profit (while still having promised investors fixed profits?) that could be reinvested into our economy and build up other supporting industries and employ more people.

Granted many Asian tigers had decades of military or one party directed efforts so I’m cautiously optimistic only because otherwise no other options have been left. The civilian industrialists elite have failed the country, not just economically but as the core of the political class, so it seems we have been told we have to go the South Korean / Singaporean route.

So for the sake of the masses that will have to bear the consequences, praying this works. Agriculture but also pharmaceutical and greater domestic petrochemical industry needs to be built up. The masses can’t stomach the high commodity prices and we shouldn’t allow ourselves to become dependent on the Indians for any of our basic needs.

If the laws will be amended to streamline business, they had better make sure to enforce of contract law and property rights and other such laws are in place so disputes can be resolved in a timely manner and FDI can be attracted.

I’m not of the idea that the re-election of IK, will allow the civilians to make the laws that will be make modernization and reindustrialization work, because “they” need to be on board.

They have at least publicly stated that they are going to manage it and have therefore have taken ownership of the situation and will be cutting out the interference of the middle men; politicians.

 

[FuturePAF]

no wonder educated Pakistanis are going abroad, all the new jobs are held by retired faujis, while the educated young generation, first remains unemployed, looking for jobs trying to serve Pakistan, and after loosing all hope, goes abroad.

This is truly become the Republic of Faujistan.

Might as well go abroad if you have the opportunity and the education and a legal pathway, especially if the career ladder is limited in Pakistan. Pakistan is basically where India was a generation ago, and those Indians that left a generation ago, they have now paid their dues and are received in India with due respect for their contributions. (One example are the Patels and their motels and hotels, now they own nearly 70% of motels in the US, and have opened doors for India.)

We need highly skilled workers in the US, so if you can get here you can add to our vibrant community. Not to say anything about any of the other diasporas but most opportunities are here in the states, IMHO.

Once you get here, aim to reach the highest position in your respective industries or raise your children to do so in which ever field they pursue.

If in the future, the nation has a different relationship with the diaspora you will be better able to choose how you want to participate. Pakistan will develop at the speed of its most talented but also it’s legal code. Built up your skilled/resume and perhaps they will come recruiting when they are ready.

 

[Jf Thunder]

Might as well go abroad if you have the opportunity and the education and a legal pathway, especially if the career ladder is limited in Pakistan. Pakistan is basically where India was a generation ago, and those Indians that left a generation ago, they have now paid their dues and are received in India with due respect for their contributions. (One example are the Patels and their motels and hotels, now they own nearly 70% of motels in the US, and have opened doors for India.)

We need highly skilled workers in the US, so if you can get here you can add to our vibrant community. Not to say anything about any of the other diasporas but most opportunities are here in the states, IMHO.

Once you get here, aim to reach the highest position in your respective industries or raise your children to do so in which ever field they pursue.

If in the future, the nation has a different relationship with the diaspora you will be better able to choose how you want to participate. Pakistan will develop at the speed of its most talented but also it’s legal code. Built up your skilled/resume and perhaps they will come recruiting when they are ready.

sadly I had no intention of going abroad before 2022, but this sudden sh*tstorm has me thinking otherwise. I am currently searching on ways to go abroad, but I am still in the searching phase. I do not know what methods to follow. Should I go abroad then look for jobs, or get a job here and then go abroad, or go abroad on a scholarship for studies. quite confusing, especially for someone who didnt intend or plan this long ago.

 

[indushek]

Agreed.
And what is the Pakistani military anyway?? It is from the Pakistani population!!! The ruling elites of Punjab are only different by their choice of clothing! People here are criticizing this because the initiative is being made while Imran is not in power. That's the truth! Nothing good can ever be done in Pakistan by anyone unless Imran is in power. What a bunch of brainwashed zombies! I swear, I can even feel their disappointment that Pakistan has not defaulted and the economy has not totally tanked.

Problem with the term Elites or Establishment is that, its never a monolith right? It keeps changing, as the river of power flows hither and thither.

People aren't wrong in feeling the way they do, given Khan sahab's current condition. That's the human fitrat, and Indians aren't different either. Tomorrow let us say, Modi ji doesn't come back you will see something similar on this side. Maybe not to this level, however there will be lot of hai duhai.

We humans hold onto past, as that's the one thing everyone is sure about, in their own way even if everyone out of a billion remembers it and reads it differently.

It might sound like me being Indian, am supporting a power that is wrangling the throat of democracy, but I strangely feel that PA is a democracy in its own way. Now I will preface this statement by saying that, it has multitude of structural and other issues, and is a far far stretch. Still the PA so far recruits someone on some form of merit, and makes them go through a rigorous form of training. Sounds manic perhaps but, some form meritocracy is coming through, even if they are overstepping their mandate.