Pakistan's agriculture sector has not received the policy support it requires in the federal budget despite its central role in the economy and national food security, the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad has said, warning that rising production costs and persistent market challenges continue to undermine farm incomes.

Addressing a press conference at a local press club on Saturday, Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar expressed concern over the treatment of agriculture in the budget, arguing that the sector had been overlooked despite its substantial contribution to economic activity and rural livelihoods.

Khokhar described agriculture as the backbone of Pakistan's economy and a primary source of employment for a large segment of the population. He said declining agricultural output and food security concerns required greater attention from policymakers. He noted that farmers had expected the budget to include measures aimed at lowering production costs, including relief in electricity tariffs and agricultural input prices, along with incentives to improve exports and increase productivity.

According to Khokhar, growers of several major crops, including cotton, wheat, maize, potatoes and mangoes, have faced marketing and pricing difficulties in recent years, reducing farm incomes and affecting the financial viability of agricultural production. He argued that policies are needed to make farming a sustainable and profitable occupation capable of attracting future generations to the sector.

The Pakistan Kissan Ittehad president also called for greater public investment in agricultural research, climate resilience and productivity enhancement, describing these areas as essential to strengthening long-term food security and supporting economic growth. As part of the organisation's proposals, Khokhar recommended establishing an independent mechanism to monitor agricultural imports, exports and production costs, with responsibility for recommending support prices that provide farmers with reasonable returns.

Highlighting the country's agricultural potential, he said Pakistan could achieve greater self-sufficiency if growers were provided with an enabling policy environment and adequate institutional support. Khokhar urged policymakers to engage more closely with representatives of the farming community and consider measures that strengthen the agriculture sector in the broader national interest.