Course Title:   Agricultural Issues and Policies of Pakistan 

Course Code:  AGEC-6522

Credit Hours:  3(3-0) 

Instructor:       Muazzam Sabir          

Email:             [email protected]  

The objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the motivations for government policies related to food and agriculture, and the policy instruments that are used to pursue policy objectives. The first part of the course introduces motivations for agricultural policies and describes some tools that can be used to meet policy goals. The second part provides details on specific polices, with emphasis on Pakistani food and agricultural policies. Programs, however it is important to note that the primary goal of this course is not to memorize the details of specific government policies. Government policies change every few years, so knowledge of a specific program is useful only for limited period of time. This course is intended to provide students with the tools to understand and analyses both current and future agricultural policies

After completing the course, students will be in a position to understand the economic thought behind agricultural issues & policies in Pakistan’s perspective.

Overview of Pakistan’s economy and role of Agriculture, major issues and problems in agriculture development of Pakistan. Agricultural Policy, policy goals, Policy instruments, policy formulation, tradeoffs between goals, Land Reforms, land tenure system, Agricultural pricing policies, input-Output pricing policies, Policy of Agricultural Marketing; agro-based industries; Agri-Taxation and subsidies, Agri. Credit and finance policies, trade policies for agricultural commodities, Farm mechanization, Agri. extension, research and educational policies, Irrigation policies of Pakistan, Institutional reforms. Rural development policies; Past policies and their evaluation.

TEXT BOOKS:

1. Ellise, F. (1992). Agricultural Policies in Developing Countries. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
2. Eckert, J. B. (1990). Agricultural Policy Manual: A discussion of Agricultural Policies for Development, Workshop Manual Series No. 2. Published by the directorate of Agricultural Policy and Chemonics International Consulting Division for EAN/Economic Analysis Network Project.

SUGGESTED READINGS:

1. Spielman, David J., ed.; Malik, Sohail Jehangir, ed.; Dorosh, Paul A., ed.; and Ahmad, Nuzhat, ed. 2016. Agriculture and the rural economy in Pakistan: Issues, outlooks, and policy priorities. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press on behalf of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
2. Naqvi, H.M. & Harold, J. National Conference on Agriculture Policies & Farmers in Pakistan May 19-21, 1992, Proceedings, Academy of Rural Development, Peshawar 1998.
3. Govt. of Pakistan, (1988). Report of the National Commission on Agriculture, Ministry of Food and Agriculture,.
4. Knutson, R.D., Penn, J.B.  & Bocam, W.T. Agricultural and Food Policy. New Jersey, USA:Prentice Hall, Inc.
5. Salam, A. (2001). Support Price Policy in Pakistan: Rationale, Practice and Future Options, Agricultural Prices Commission Series No.196.
6. Raza, R. (2001). Pakistan in Perspective (1947-1997). Pakistan: Oxford University Press.

Presentations and Assignment submission on different selected Agricultural Policy Issues.

Sessional:                    12 (Class Attendance:2, Presentation: 4, Assignments: 6)

Mid Term Test:           18

Final Term Test:         30