The expansion of housing societies and urban development has a significant and concerning impact on agricultural land.
Urban housing schemes are initiative that aims to provide affordable housing to low-income households in urban areas. In today’s world, where cities are growing quickly and more people are living close together, finding a balance between making new homes in cities and protecting farmland is really important.
This article explores this balance in detail. When cities expand and new neighbourhoods are built, they often take up land that could be used for farming. This leads to changes that affect not only the land where crops grow but also how our society works.
This article looks closely at this problem, showing what happens, what causes it, and how we might solve it. By studying and understanding this issue, we hope to figure out ways to make cities grow without hurting the land that produces our food.
Every person on this earth needs shelter for himself and his family. The world’s population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. And in Pakistan, the population is expected to grow from 221 million people in 2020 to 263 million in 2030. As the population of Pakistan is rising continuously, the demand for food is also increasing.
To fulfil the requirement for food for the natives, we need substantial farming land. By cultivating there, we can get a good quantity of yield. We can feed the people by obtaining ample crop quantities. Feeding the people is crucial, but habitation is also one of the most vital components of living. Habitation is not essential, but food is. We can also live in a moderate-sized house rather than a larger one.
Balancing Needs: Exploring the Holistic Importance of Agricultural Land Preservation
The expansion of housing societies and urban development has a significant and concerning impact on agricultural land, often resulting in the conversion of fertile fields into residential or commercial spaces. This transformation carries profound implications for both the agricultural sector and the critical issue of food security.
As housing societies continue to grow, they encroach upon valuable arable land, thereby reducing the overall amount of land available for productive farming. This reduction in agricultural land gives rise to a range of adverse effects, including:
- Loss in agricultural production
- Conversion of fertile land
- Decline in economics
- Food prices and inflation
- Loss of biodiversity
How Urban Housing Schemes Have Contributed to the Decline of Agricultural Land:
The agriculture sector is the backbone of our economy. The agriculture sector directly or indirectly contributes 24% to the GDP (gross domestic product) of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s GDP from agriculture reached an all-time high of 19079377.00 PKR million in 2022, with an annual average of 3493033.82 PKR million from 2006 to 2022. But agricultural lands are continuously declining with the increase in new housing schemes.
With an average yearly growth rate of 2.7%, Pakistan is one of South Asia’s countries with the fastest urbanisation rates. People from rural areas are significantly shifting to urban areas for the sake of facilities.
We can also call it rural-urban migration. Urbanisation leads to the decline of agricultural land by building a large number of housing societies. In 2015, the total arable land in Pakistan was 30.44 million hectares. But now, in 2023, the cultivated area will be reduced from 30.44 million hectares to 22.1 million hectares.
As indicated by a report from the Kisan Board of Pakistan, approximately 20–30% of fertile land within Punjab province, responsible for generating 65% of the nation’s overall food demand, has undergone transformation into industrial facilities and housing developments.
Specifically within the Lahore division, the conversion of agricultural land to housing and industrial establishments accounts for 70%, while Gujrat exhibits a similar trend with a conversion rate of 60%.
In other agricultural districts located in central Punjab, commonly referred to as the commercial hub of Punjab, such as Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, and Kasur, there has been a sale of approximately 30% to 40% of fertile land to real estate developers and industrialists, according to his statement. This is a very alarming situation.
These transformations led to the decline of agricultural land. The population of Pakistan is continuously rising, but the cultivated area is continuously reducing. In the coming year, it will cause problems with food security. Now, it is the duty of the government, NGOs, and citizen groups to take action on it. Otherwise, we can face the difficulties of food security.
Role of NGOs or citizen groups to ensure agricultural sustainability
Now, the question is raised: what is the role of NGOs or citizen groups in Pakistan for balanced development?
Now, it’s a duty for NGOs or citizen groups to play a vital role. These roles are:
- Raising public awareness
- Lobbying for stricter regulations
- Collaborating with authorities
- Monitoring land use changes
- Promoting alternative urban planning models
- Engaging local communities
They should serve as advocates, educators, collaborators, and watchdogs and work towards a balanced approach that ensures the coexistence of urban development and agricultural sustainability.
