Minister pushes for agricultural growth | The Express Tribune

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Minister for Agriculture, Mohammad Sajjad, emphasized the pivotal role of the agricultural sector in the nation’s economy.

He underscored the current government’s commitment to prioritizing agricultural development in alignment with the vision set forth by PTI founder Imran Khan and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

During the first review meeting concerning agricultural projects, Minister Sajjad urged agricultural officers to execute their duties with dedication and integrity. He emphasized the importance of formulating agricultural projects with significant and enduring impacts, tailored to meet the needs of landowners while benefiting farmers.

The meeting, attended by Secretary Agriculture Javed Marwat, CPO Agriculture, DGs, and other relevant officers, focused on ongoing development initiatives such as ADP-2023-24, AIP, Externally Aided Schemes, and the Prime Minister’s Emergency Agriculture Program, among others.

Detailed briefings were provided on various service projects, agricultural extension and research endeavors, and engineering initiatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2024.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article highlights the importance of agricultural development in the nation’s economy, which can contribute to poverty reduction.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The focus on agricultural projects and initiatives indicates a connection to the goal of achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The article mentions the need for agricultural projects with enduring impacts, which can contribute to economic growth and job creation.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The article mentions ongoing development initiatives and engineering initiatives in the agricultural sector, indicating a connection to this goal.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article mentions the involvement of various officers and stakeholders in the review meeting, highlighting the importance of collaboration and partnerships.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions – This target can be connected to SDG 1 (No Poverty) as the agricultural sector’s development can contribute to poverty reduction.
• Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers – This target can be connected to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) as the focus on agricultural projects and initiatives can contribute to increasing agricultural productivity and incomes.
• Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labor-intensive sectors – This target can be connected to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) as the emphasis on enduring impacts in agricultural projects can contribute to economic productivity and growth.
• Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes – This target can be connected to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) as the article mentions ongoing development initiatives and engineering initiatives in the agricultural sector.
• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries – This target can be connected to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) as the involvement of various officers and stakeholders in the review meeting highlights the importance of partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 1.2.1: Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age – This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 1.2 (No Poverty) as it focuses on reducing the proportion of people living in poverty.
• Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size – This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 2.3 (Zero Hunger) as it focuses on increasing agricultural productivity.
• Indicator 8.2.1: Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person – This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 8.2 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) as it focuses on economic productivity.
• Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added – This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 9.4 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) as it focuses on the sustainability of industrial processes.
• Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals – This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 17.16 (Partnerships for the Goals) as it focuses on the reporting of progress in multi-stakeholder partnerships.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators