Agriculture Statistics

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Agriculture Statistics

Introduction Agriculture constitutes the largest sector of our economy. Majority of thepopulation, directly or indirectly, dependent on this sector. It contributes

about 24 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounts for half of employed labour force and is the largest source of foreign exchangeearnings. It feeds whole rural and urban population. Realizing its importance,planners and policy makers are always keen to have reliable area andproduction statistics of agricultural crops well in time. Policy makers primarilyneed accurate and timely statistics for the important crops such as wheat,cotton, rice, sugarcane, maize etc. However, in recent years, due topersistent hikes in the prices of essential commodities like pulses, onions,potatoes, chillies and tomatoes these crops have also gained in economicimportance.

Methodology of Crop Estimate

Punjab Acreage Estimate:

The 1st and 2nd Estimates of area sown under 12 major crops are arrived at through Sample Surveysundertaken by the Directorate of Crop Reporting Service, Punjab. The f inal estimates of area sown undercrops are based on complete enumeration (Girdawari) of all Mouzas carried out by Patwaris of RevenueDepartment twice a year.

The information gathered by Patwaris is passed on by the Revenue Department to the Provincial BureauStatistics for preparation of computerized Jinswar statements.

The acreage statistics included in the 1st and 2nd estimates are approved by the Secretary, AgricultureDepartment at his level.

The final acreage estimates based on the Girdawari are approved by the Provincial Agriculture Statistics

Coordination Board headed by the Chairman, Planning Board, Punjab.

Production Estimates:Preliminary production estimates of 12 major crops are based on opinion survey undertaken by the CropReporting Service of Agriculture Department. These estimates are approved by Secretary, AgricultureDepartment. For final yield estimates, crop cutting surveys are conducted by the Crop Reporting Servicewheat, cotton and rice. Grower's Opinion survey are used for other crops. The final estimates of major croare cleared by the Provincial Agriculture Statistics Coordination Board.

SindhAcreage Estimate:In the Sindh, 1st estimate relates to area sown under all crops of area sown. The 2nd estimate which is ficase of area and preliminary in case of production in respect of wheat, cotton and rice is prepared on thebasis of Sample Survey undertaken by the Statistical staff of Provincial Agricultural Extension. Final Estim

is the verification of 2nd Estimate.

Area sown of wheat, cotton and rice is obtained by applying raising factors to the area surveyed at the dilevel. Provincial estimates are obtained by summing the district estimates.

The area of other crops is obtained from the District Revenue Offices. The consolidated information isexamined by a sub-committee comprising representatives of the Provincial Revenue, Agriculture, Irrigatioand Bureau of Statistics Departments.

The 1st and 2nd Estimates are approved by the Secretary, Agriculture. The Final Estimates are approved


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Go to the following links for further

informationhttp://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/fbs/publications/yearbook2008/yearbook2008.html

http://www.pakissan.com/english/agri.overview/index.shtml

Pakistan: Priorities for Agriculture and Rural Development
http://www.pakissan.com/english/agri.overview/index.shtmlhttp://www.pakissan.com/english/agri.overview/index.shtml


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BACKGROUND

More than two-thirds of Pakistanis live in rural areas, of which about 68 percent are employed inagriculture (40 percent of total labor force). The agriculture sector accounts for about 22 percent of thenational GDP and has enjoyed steady growth for almost three decades, substantially contributing topoverty reduction during the 1970s and 80s.

However, recent trend of agriculture incomes is far less encouraging and rural poverty was back to 38.9percent by 2002, the same level where it was at the beginning of the 1990s. This has occurred despitegenerally favorable policies on prices and markets, and a relatively liberalized environment. Whileconsecutive droughts have certainly played a detrimental role in the performance of the sector, it alsofaces significant structural constraints that hinder the sectors contribution to economic growth and

poverty reduction.

ISSUES & CHALLENGES

Poorly functioning factor markets and constrained access to assets limit opportunities for rural growthand poverty reduction. More than 60 percent of poor rural households are not farm households, with noaccess to land or water. 38 percent of small landowning farmers are also poor. Incomes from non-farmactivities, including agricultural products processing, trade, construction, and transport services alreadyaccount for 63 percent of total rural incomes. Well-functioning factor markets to facilitate access to assets(land, capital, water) and linkages with non farm sector are crucial for the growth.

Inequality and land concentration: The agriculture sector is characterized by strong inequality in the

distribution of assets, particularly land and water. About 2 percent of the households control more than 45percent of the land area. Large farmers have also captured the subsidies in water and agriculture, as wellas the benefits of agricultural growth. Agriculture credit schemes have also mostly benefited large farmerswho have capitalized the implicit subsidies through higher land prices and cheaper access tomechanization rather than labor.

Agricultural growth is constrained: The capacity of the agriculture R&D system has declined sharplyduring the last decade, and both the adoption of Green Revolution technologies and the extension of irrigation have reached saturation levels. Technology for rain fed areas and livestock is needed while thepast focus has been the irrigation sector. Livestock has been the fastest growing sub-sector, and nowcomprises almost half of the agricultural GDP. Another constraint comes from inefficient output marketsand rent seeking in the supply chain systems, with value being captured by intermediaries. Liberalized

markets and the new WTO regime could offer new opportunities for growth if the Government adopts aneffective diversification strategy.

Unsustainable water resources management: Irrigation is the single most critical component of water management in the country. However, it shows signs of inefficiency and degradation: i) low conveyanceefficiency at 45 percent and deferred maintenance cause both considerable water losses (though much of that goes back into the aquifer) and deterioration of major infrastructure (barrages); ii) illegal pumpingfrom canals and inaccessibility to water by the tail-enders result in unequal water distribution; iii) the lack


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of transparency of the actual water flow causes inter-provincial water allocation clashes and inefficientwater management systems; iv) supply-driven system cannot accommodate farmers specific needs; v)cost recovery is low because of bureaucracy and lack of accountability by the service provider (IrrigationDepartment); vi) water logging, salinity, pollution, and land degradation are becoming significant; andvii) storage management and water scheduling should be improved for water shortages during the winter and oversupply during the summer necessitate

Weak rural service delivery: Pakistan has taken major decisions to devolve authority to localgovernments to improve service delivery This means the roles of different tires of government has beenbetter defined, and downward accountability strengthened. This is a dynamic process, and the countrystill faces implementation challenges. However, strengthening service delivery and enhanced citizenparticipation is critical for the development of the non-farm sector, the rural investment climate, andgovernance.

PRIORITY AREAS OF THE WORLD BANK'S SUPPORT

1. Fostering agricultural growth and competitiveness

Policy and Institutional Reforms: Recent reforms on the liberalization of input markets and trade shouldbe consolidated to take advantage of new opportunities offered by the WTO agreement. Agriculture andirrigation policies will need to focus on diversification into high value products, agro-processing, and better integration in supply chains. For the poor to benefit, increases in productivity should be reflected in lower food prices, higher employment and rural wages. At the same time the research and extensionsystem need to be revised towards more demand-driven, participatory approaches based on public-private partnership.

Irrigation Sector. Institutional reforms and investments need to proceed in parallel. At the primary level,long term solutions are needed for inter-provincial drainage problems and environmental flows to theIndus delta. At the same time, the safety of infrastructure (especially barrages) will need to beguaranteed. At the secondary level, the introduction of water entitlements and rights, greater participationof stakeholders, transfer of asset management to water users, development of accountable servicedelivery institutions, and improved water pricing and cost recovery policies are needed. At the tertiarylevel, a better integration between irrigation and agriculture would help the whole system to become moredemand driven.

2. Promoting more equitable access to assets and natural resources management.

Land: The high inequality in the existing land tenure structure calls for a comprehensive approach that issocioeconomic and politically feasible. On the one hand, it requires better land markets functions through:(i) improvements in the land administration system, including computerization of land records andreduction of transaction costs; (ii) land taxation policies to reduce incentives for speculative purposes; and(iii) market-based land purchase schemes to facilitate land access across size groups. On the other hand,better allocation of State-owned lands should be further pursued to address landlessness.

Finance: Access to formal and informal credit by medium- and small-size farmers and non-farmenterprises should be expanded. For the poor, micro-credit programs that accept other forms of collateralbesides land, matching grants for income generating activities, and savings-based schemes may be moreappropriate to increase access to micro-finance services. An adequate regulatory framework also needsto be put in place for this.


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Natural resources. The degradation of land, water, forests and natural ecosystems is pervasive andmostly affects the poor. The situation in Sindh with respect to land use, salinity, degradation of thewetlands, and floods will need special attention, given the large externalities involved. Policies and publicprograms will need to address the incentive structure for sustainable use and mitigation measures.

3. Institutions for the poor and rural service delivery

Participation and accountability: The importance to target the poor to share the benefit of growth and toaddress their immediate needs is widely recognized. The Governments devolution initiative strengthenedaccountability and aimed to improve rural service delivery through capacity building for local governmentsand communities, and citizen participation.

Livelihood opportunities. Social mobilization and increased capacity for collective action will enhance opportunities for livelihood and income generating activities and greater "voice" in dealing with the private sector and markets. Supportfor the basic infrastructure and social services delivery would help improving the rural investment climate, a vibrantprivate sector, employment and livelihood opportunities, and linkages between farm and non-farm sectors.

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/EXTSAREG

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Agriculture Statistics