Arooj Zulfiqar

Urbanization is one of the key causes of decline in agricultural output in Pakistan. Agriculture is still the most important sector of the country’s economy. Talking to WealthPK, Prof Dr. Muhammad Azam Khan, Chairman of the Department of Horticulture, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, said that urbanization is a growing phenomenon in Pakistan, leading to a rapid expansion of cities and depletion of rural areas.

“Migration of people from rural to urban areas is causing significant changes in the country's economy, social structure, and environment. However, one of the most significant impacts of urbanization is the destruction of agriculture in Pakistan,” he said. “Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, providing employment and food security to millions of people. However, the increasing demand for land for residential and commercial purposes has led to the conversion of fertile agricultural lands into urban areas, resulting in loss of valuable agricultural lands and reducing the potential for food production.

Urbanization is driven by the need for more housing, industry, and commercial areas, which often conflicts with the needs of farmers and other rural communities,” said Dr Azam. “Urbanization also creates environmental problems, such as soil degradation, water pollution, and deforestation, which affect agricultural lands and their productivity. Loss of forests and other natural habitats leads to the displacement of wildlife and plants that are essential to the ecological balance. This, in turn, has a negative impact on the agriculture, as the loss of pollinators and other beneficial insects can reduce crop yields.

Moreover, urbanization has resulted in the loss of traditional agricultural practices, such as the use of organic fertilizers and crop rotation, which are essential for sustainable agriculture.” Dr Azam said. “The housing societies are growing at an alarming rate, which is resulting in the loss of valuable agricultural land on an annual basis. It is estimated that there are around 8,700 housing societies across the country at the moment, with at least 6,000 of them functioning illegally due to not being registered with the relevant authorities.’’

‘’The growth of these housing societies has resulted in a decrease in the amount of farmland that can be used for agricultural purposes. Consequently, this has resulted in a shortage of food as well as a rise in costs for basic necessities. Therefore, urbanization is a significant threat to agriculture, causing the loss of valuable agricultural lands, degradation of the environment, and displacement of the traditional agricultural practices. It is crucial to find a balance between urbanization and agriculture so that the needs of both urban and rural communities are met and the sustainability of agriculture is maintained in the long term,’’ Dr Azam added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk