They said globalisation had exposed farming community to both risk and opportunity, as such it was the responsibility of extension department to minimise the impact of market liberalisation.
Hence, the setting up of such cell would serve no purpose unless the departments, connected with the development of agriculture, including the extension services were streamlined and made free of corruption, they further observed.
The experts said agro-economy of Sindh depended on its canal irrigation network, which was in dilapidated condition. There was a need for high power monitoring cell to create awareness for judicious use of available water resources by levelling of land, adopting modern farm management system, introducing alternate methods of irrigation - such as drip irrigation.
Therefore, the proposed cell should also ensure equal distribution of water and completion of Rs 27 billion watercourse-lining project on schedule.
The experts maintained that political, administrative and financial mismanagement were yet other irritants in sustainable development of agriculture in the province.
They said that at present agriculture extension services had no workshop but a battery of motor mechanics and helpers were on its payroll. There are no tubewells owned or managed by it, but it has a number of tubewell operators for the reason best known to them. There are 150 drivers for only 50 vehicles - of which 100 usually remain on furlough. The market committees were fully staffed, yet a large number of people had been appointed under contingency head. The question remains unanswered either this was criminal waste of resources and money.
There was water and soil testing laboratories in every district under Research Department but they were never made operative and have now turned into scrap. The laboratory staff was there and drawing salary.
The Foundation Seed Cell, working under the research department, failed to multiply seeds for winter crop at Sakrand seed processing plant. The fate of dozens of mini seed processing plants was yet to be known as the wheat growers were running from pillar to post for getting quality seeds.
The experts are of the view that in order to meet the challenges of free market regime; sustainable development of agriculture sector was imperative, without which the WTO Cell was meaningless.