Elilze Proceedings of Seminar on Fertilizer Distribution and Use in Pakistan
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0 A M EN Am S V Ip O ElIlZE Proceedings of Seminar on Fertilizer Distribution and Use in Pakistan Sponsored by : 9 National Fertilizer Corporation of Pakistan Ltd. (NFC) e US-AID Mission to Pakistan * Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) " National Fertilizer Development Centre (NFDC) NFC IATIONAL FERTILIZER CORPORATION OF PAKISTAN LIMITED AI-falah Buildini. Shihrah e-Ouaid e.A iar. Lah.)re JULY, 1979 Printed by Khawaja Muhammad Munir at the Sunbeam Commercial Art Press, 41 - Chamberlain Road, Lahore and published by National Fertilizer Corpora. tion of Pakistan Limited. Alfalah, Shahrah-e.Ouaid.e.Azam, Lahore. FOREWORD Use in Pakistan" was organiz- A two day seminar on "Fertilizer Distribution and Pakistan Ltd., In collaboration with ed by the National Fertilizer Corporation ot Fertilizer Development Center Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, National 28 ar.d March 1, 1979. The and USAID at Holiday Inn, Islamabad on February evaluate the findings of a national seminar was convened to discuss and critically Fertilizer Corporation and USAID study carried out jointly by the National of fertilizer in Pakistan. during 1976-78 on distribution and use Safdar, the then Federal The seminar was inaugurated by Khawaja Mohammad While 115 -xnerts. scientists Minister for Food, Agriculture and Co-operatives. organi. ,tions partici and planners representing 39 national and 9 international extended over six se~sions pated" in the seminar. The deliberations of the seminar Farmers Investigation Survey, dealing with Research Methodology, General Intensive Farmers Study Institutional Credit Survey, Fertilizer Dealers Surve'y, and the report of the Recommendation Committee. specific recommendations were As a result of these deliberations, seventeen distribution and credit. developed in the areas of fertilizer research, extension, at the concluding session These recommendations were discussed and finalized Federal Minister and Vice- presided by Prof. Khurshid Ahmed. the then Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of Pakistan. seminar and includes sessional This rompilatior, presents the proceedings of the and the recommendations. papers, transcripts of the p;,nel. general discussions will serve as a useful reference It is hoped that the text of the proceedings will be helpful in the material and the recommendations made at the seminar formulation of fertilizer policies in Pakistan. Council, National Fertilizer I wish to thank Pakistan Agricultural Research for International Development Development Center and United States Agency in making the seminar a successful event. RIYAZ H. BOKHARI LAHORE Chairman May 16, 1979 CONTENTS Page List of Tables (ii) (iii) List of Diagrams Recommendations 1 Inaugura: 3ession 6 First Session : Research Methodology 22 Second Session : General Far.mers' Investigation Survey 54 Third Sestion : Institutional Credit Survey 96 Fouith Session Fertilizer Dealers' Suivey 106 Fifth Session: Intensive Farmers' Study 132 Concluding Remarks 153 Vote of Thanks 156 Recommendation Committee 157 Lis' of Participants 158 Glossary 167 LIST OF TABLES Page Sr. No. 48 1. Characteristics of the Sample Tehsils/'Talukas'. 50 2. Fertilizer Dealers' Sample Stratification. 51 3. Distribution of the Dealers Interviewed. Sample. 52 4. Number and Bank Branches Included in the 53 5. Size of Sample. 84 6. Characteristics of the Sample Tehsils/'Talukas'. and Percentage uf Farmers Using end Not 7. Number 86 Using Fertilizer. of Farmers Applying Nitrogenous (N) and 8. Percentage 87 Phosphatic (P) Fertilizers to Wheat, Rice and Cotton. (N) and Phosphorus 9. Average Application Rates of Nitrogen Wheat, Cotton and Rice by F3rmers Using Some (P) to 88 Fertilizer. Classified by Tenurial Class Using 10. Percentage of Farmers 89 Fertilizer. Size Using Fertilizer. 89 11. Percentage of Farmers Classified by Farm Fertilizer Cr.dit. 90 12. Number and Percentage of Farmers Using Borrowing for Fertilizer Classified by 13. Percentage of Farmers 91 Source of Fertilizer Credit. Areas Receiving Percentage of Farmers in Irrigated and Barani 14. Sources. 92 [formation About Fertilizer from Various 92 15. Farmers' Reasons for Not Using Fertilizer. 93 16. Reasons for Discontinuation of Fertilizer Use. and Levels of Significance 17. Regression Coefficients, F-Statistic the Probability of Farmers' Use Of of Variables Related to 94 Nitrogenous Fertilizer on Wheat. Sr. No. Page 18. Number of Bank Branches Included in the Sample. 105 19. Fertilizer Dealers Sample Stratification. 129 20. Distribution of the Dealers Sample. 130 21. Size of Sample. 149 22. Agroclimatic and Other Details About Sample Villages. 150 23. Use of Fertilizer in Sample Villages. 152 LIST OF DIAGRAMS 1. Map Showing Selected Study Areas. 26 2. Diagram Showing Concentric Zones and Selected Villages in a Sample Tehsil. 28 RECOMMENDATIONS Introductlon It was observed with satisfaction that a substantial progress has been made in developing and improving fertilizer use during the past five years. Growth in fertilizer consumption has regis:ered progressive increase averaging about 12% annually for nitrogen and 34% for phosphorus. The N:P ratio improved of from 6:1 in 1973-74 to 3.5:1 in 1977-78, indicating a better balanced use the fertilizer. Realizing tha obvious importanc- of fertilizer as key input, time is appropiate to formuate policy measures to sustain the encouraging is, growth trend and ensure efficient use of fertilizer at the farm level. There thus, a need to develop an appropriate package of technology as well as policy of measures which when implemented will lead to increased and balanced use fertilizer. 1. Fertilizer Research it is In order to optimize the use of fertilizer for increasing crnp production, imperative that systematic research is conducted under different soil and ecolo. gical conditions to determine the type of fertilizer, the amount, the time and the method of applicatir n to various crops. National Fertilizer Development Centre a (NFDC) is already in the process of reviewing the status of this research with Agri view to identifying weaknesses and strengthening the programme. Pakistan cultural Research Council (PARC) should coordinate this research with NFDC, research institutes, universities and the fertilizer industry. 2. Soil Testing The net-work of soil testing facilities should be reviewed and strengthened easily throughout the country so that individual farmer can have his soil tested as well as various soil series can be analysed routinely for developing soil fertility maps at district level to make specific fertilizer recommenddtions for different crops and soil types. Various fertilizer manufacturing/marketing companies should also be encouraged to provide such facilities on payment basis. This should be coordinated by NFDC. 3. Fertilizer Use Information The existing information available on fertilizer use for crop production should be consolidated by NFDC in the form of a book and widely distributed amongst 2 relevant agencies engaged in fertilizer use, distribution and extension. This material can be further used in preparing leaflets for distribution amongst farmers. 4. Extension Service One of the most important findings of the study relates to in-effectiveness of the extension service in motivating farmers for fertilizer adoption. Without going into the constraints which the extension service faces. It isrecommended that PARC should initiate and coordinate a research project to determine the appropriate extension methods suitable for conditions prevalent in Pakistan and to evaluate the recently iiitroduced "Training and Visit" (T & V) exten:ion system introduced by the Wored Banl, 5. Fertilizer Demonstration The fact that fellow farmers were an irrportant source of fertilizer information, signifies the role of demonstration in farmers' education on fertilizer use. There is, therefore, a need for an effective and continuous demonstration programme by the extension service and fertilizer industry. 6. Special Radio Channel for Agriculture In view of the central importance of radio in farmers' education, a special radio channel, focussing exclusively on modern 3griculture, adult education and rural development should be established for the rural population. The Ministries of Agriculture and Information & Broadcasting should develop prcper organization and create requisite facilities for this channel. The finding of the study that major agricultural operations in 'barani'areas are carried out by womenr further emphasize the need for the special radio charnel. 7. Television There should be a regular TV programme on agricultural extension at least twice aweek. The programme should concentrate on agricultural operations and their demonstrations through pictures and slides, rather than interviews with the specialists. 8. Dealers' Training In order to further promote fertilizer use, the fertilizer dealers should possess the basic technical training to impart agricultural know-how to their customers. 3 NFDC should design a suitable training programme and coordinate its imple mentation through fertilizer manufacturers/marketers, ultimately leading to a training certificate as a pre-requisite for fertilizer dealership. 9. Road Infrastructure There is a direct relationship between met3lled road and the fertilizer consump tion. This emphasizes the need for an extensive road net-work in the rural areas including the possibility of developing eind opening up canal banks for rural transportation. 10. Transportation Transport system should be developed to meet