My name is Hamad Ashraf, 24 years old, a graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Sargodha. I have a passion for agricultural development. My father is a farmer. He owns 5 acres of land. My elder brother is serving in the army but I preferred to get an education in agriculture because I want to help my father to cultivate better crops for a better income.
I want to express my opinion on the agriculture policies of Punjab. I believe that the government should consult the representatives of small farmers at the policy level, especially young farmers. The recent formation of the 11-member National Coordination Committee on Agriculture Transformation Committee lacks that aspect. The Committee does not include a single representative of small farmers. The chairman nominated for the Committee owns an agricultural company that produces pesticides and chemicals. It is an open conflict of interest. We demand that the government include farmers’ representatives in all decision-making bodies related to agriculture.
The development of agriculture is possible only when the representatives of the farmers are involved in the decisions related to it.
I present my services to this committee on a volunteer basis. If I am given a chance to be a member of any committee for agriculture, I will do my best to improve the agricultural policies benefiting the farming community.
Hamad Ashraf
Pakistan
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