Rice, Wheat, Maize, cotton, sugarcane etc are the major crops of Pakistan.
Posted on July 18, 2013 by Safdar Abbas in Agri Punjab, agribusiness, Agribusiness development, Agribusiness Export, Agribusiness Foods, Agribusiness Pakistan, Agribusiness Training, Agriculture Pakistan, Pakistnani Agriculture Crops, Punjab Agriculture, RISING FOOD PRICES
Major Crops of Pakistan
In pakistan, farm production is dominated by a few crops which account for almost 60 percent of GDP from agriculture. Cropping systems vary widely because of variations in agro-climatic and soil conditions. Wheat is the major winter crop in all regions of the country. In summer, rice, cotton, and maize are grown in areas suitable for their production. Crop production takes
place both on irrigated and dry land, with irrigated agriculture contributing’ about 80 percent of the total production. The five major crops are Wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, and maize. The economic significance of these major crop is briefly described in the following paragraphs.
Wheat
Self-sufficiency in wheat can be achieved and sustained only if wheat yields are increased beyond past levels. This can be done by bringing more area under certified wheat seed. At present, only 10 percent of the wheat-growing area is being sown with certified wheat seed as against the minimally desired 20 percent. Further increase in yield can be realized through improved cultural practices, greater attention to tillage and harvesting, more balanced and timely use of fertilizer, and higher water-use efficiency.
Yield levels in the barani areas of Pakistan are exceptionally low, but yield can be increased if special attention is given to technology generation and dissemination in these areas. Particular attention should be given to the development of appropriate tillage and planting equipment. Research in the development of new wheat varieties will also have to place greater emphasis
on disease-resistant, late-planted, and short-duration varieties, and on cultivars suited ‘to stressed environments. In 199F-92, wheat was grown over some 7.877 million ha, about 6.497 million ha under irrigation and about 1.380 under rainfed conditions. The yields obtained were 2170 kg/ha under irrigation and 1146 kg/ha without irrigation. Since 1975-76, the area under irrigated wheat has steadily increased from about 4.594 million ha, and the
area under rainfed wheat has declined from about 1.517 million ha. The per hectare yields over this period have increased 30 percent for irrigated wheat and 67 percent for rainfed wheat (Agricultural Statistics of Pakistan 1991-92, pp.8-12).
Rice
Rice is the second most important economic crop in Pakistan. Pakistan appears to have a comparative advantage in producing the highly-valued, aromatic basmati rice. Basmati has been’ a major export of Pakistan, and generates substantial revenues for the government from export duties. The government has adopted a number of policy measures to promote larger
production of basmati. The major rice-growing provinces, Punjab and Sindh, account for 54 and 36 percent, respectively, of the area planted. Basmati is grown in the Punjab. In 1988-89, the area urider rice was 2.042 million hectares, and the average yield was 1,567 kg/ha. In 1991-92, the area under rice was 2.097 million ha, an increase of.23 percent over 1975-76. Its aver- age yield over this period has varied from 1531 to 1741 kg/ha, with a mean
of 1609 kg/ha (Agricultural Statistics of Pakistan 1991-92, pp. 13-14).