Agriculture is
mainstay of Pakistan's economy. It accounts for 21% of the GDP and
together with agro-based products fetches 80% of the country’s total export
earnings. More than 48% of the labour force is engaged in this sector.
The most populated
province of Punjab provides the largest share in national agricultural
production. Agriculture offers 21% of the GDP and gives employment to 47% of
the population. It contributes in provision of raw materials to major
industries; textile, leather, rice processing, edible oil, sugar and various
food processing industries. Pakistan’s total export has a three fourth share of
agriculture and 60% of this share comes from Punjab. Over years, Punjab has
tried to meet the challenges of food security.
Punjab becomes the
second largest province making 25.9% of country’s total land, with its area of
20.63 million hectares. Land utilization status is accessible for 86% of the
aggregate territory; while 14% land stays unreported. Another 14% of the area
is not available for agriculture due to either being totally fertile or being
occupied by infrastructure consequently only 72% of the land is available for
cropping. 10.81 million hectares (53%) is net sown area; area that is
cultivated at least once and year. 9% of the land is categorized as current
fallow; area that is not used for cultivation during a year. 8% land is marked
as culturable waste which means area that is not cultivated for more than three
years and is a part of cultivated area.
Census of agriculture
2010 shows that there were 5,249,800 agriculture farms in Punjab, these farms
consists majorly of very small farms. 42% of the farms are even less than one
hector. Farms ranging from one hector to 10 hectares make the half of the total
number of farms and they occupy 68.9 % of the total area. Farms consisting of
10 hectare and above are 22.2 % of the total farm area.
Statistics of 2014
shows that Punjab’s total cropped area was 16.68 million hectares this depicts
that 5.87 million hectares was sown more than once during the year. In 2015,
wheat was cropped in 42% of the land similarly cotton occupies 14 % and rice
11.3 % the Punjab’s total cropped area.
To fulfill the needs of livestock population of the province fodder was cropped in 10.6% of the, following Maize and Sugarcane occupying 4.1 % and 4.3% area respectively. Oilseeds, pulses and vegetables were cropped only in 10 % of the area.
To fulfill the needs of livestock population of the province fodder was cropped in 10.6% of the, following Maize and Sugarcane occupying 4.1 % and 4.3% area respectively. Oilseeds, pulses and vegetables were cropped only in 10 % of the area.
The mission is to
sustain food security and support to national economy, making agriculture cost
effective and knowledge based, with emphasis on farmer’s welfare and
maintenance of the yield potentials.
Land Utilization Statistics
Pakistan
(Area in million hectares) |
Punjab
(Area in million hectares) |
|
Geographical Area
|
79.61
|
20.63
|
Forest area
|
4.55
|
0.49
|
Not available for cultivation
|
23.10
|
2.97
|
Culturable waste
|
8.27
|
1.52
|
Cultivated area
|
22.07
|
12.52
|
Total reported area
|
57.99
|
17.50
|
Current fellow
|
6.69
|
1.89
|
Net area sown
|
15.38
|
10.63
|
Area sown more than once
|
7.30
|
5.89
|
Total cropped area
|
22.68
|
16.52
|
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