Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Recollections and remembrances

problems in agriculture still remained to be identified. Let it not be forgotten thatthe problem of increasing agricultural production, simple though it may scent tothe unwary eye is complex mid composite like the white sunlight which isformed by a spectrum of several constituent lights and cannot be formed withoutan adequate admixture of all the seven different lights which go into the makingof it.The imperatives which are the sine-quo-non of agricultural development aremany both big small. Some are really hard nuts to crack. Naturally the greater thebearing which a factor has on increase in production the more difficult are its preconditionsto achieve. Only a Government fired by endless enthusiasm to workfor the amelioration of the masses of our people, a Government led by a topleader who besides being sensitive to the need for quick advancement is alsoperceptive enough to isolate each important factor and to supply energyproportionately to its importance and then to pursue implementation with aresolute determination could tackle this most basic of all problems of our nationaleconomy.In this article, I propose to high light the more salient of the problems and hope toshow with facts and figures how the Peoples Government under the dynamicleadership of Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed had been able to not only proceedin the right directions but to achieve substantial success in a remarkably shortperiod.AGRICULTURE INQUIRY BODY:It had been an earnest desire of the People’s Government to achieve selfsufficiency in food in the shortest possible time. Although soon after assuringpower a variety of socio-economic reforms were introduced yet it was felt that theproblems of agricultural development demanded an exclusive and throughexamination so as to identify the factors which impeded growth and to ensurethat the growth rate of this important sector of economy exceeds by far the rate ofpopulation growth. Also that agricultural development was clone under a planwhich was well conceived and well integrated. A high powered agricultureinquiry committee under the Chairmanship of the Federal Minister for Food andAgriculture was therefore constituted in March 1975 to go over all aspects ofagriculture. It may be mentioned here that I was entrusted with the portfolio ofFood and Agriculture by the end of 1974. This committee with the assistance ofPakistani experts in various agricultural sciences and under the guidance of thePrime Minister prepared a comprehensive report outlining measures necessary toaccelerate production. The master plan contained in its recommendations hadbeen under implementation for over one year. After discussing some of the moreimportant factors in agricultural development envisaged in this Programme, Ipropose to show from concrete date the phenomenal rise in production in theZulfikar Ali Bhutto, Recollections and Remembrances; Copyright © www.bhutto.org 116