High Lights Of Agriculture In Pakistan 2014-15 (Source Ministry of Finance Economic Survey 2014-15) A Report Prepared By Allah Dad Khan

Contribution to GDPAgriculture accounted for 20.9

percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2014-15 and is a source of livelihood of 43.5 percent of rural population. Increased agricultural production and high crops yield is essential for food security which make the farming systems less vulnerable to climate change.

High Value AgricultureThe prime focus of the

government is on high value agriculture including horticulture, livestock and fisheries. Concerted efforts are being made to improve farm level practices and developing linkages of farmers with markets and industry based on new technologies, ideas and future pathways for sustainable growth of agro industry

Agriculture performance in Pakistan Agricultural performance in Pakistan

remained subdued. Major factors underlying this slow performance include slow rate of technological innovation, limited adoption of progressive farming techniques, problems with quality, quantity and timeliness of input supply, limited investment in construction and maintenance of infrastructure; marketing and trade restrictions, pest and livestock disease problems, and limited amounts of credit for agricultural production, processing and the lack of agriculture-specific financing.

Highlights of Agriculture 2014-15

The agriculture growth stood at 2.9 percent during July-March, 2014-15 as compared to 2.7 percent during the last year. due to positive growth in all related agriculture sub sectors. Crops witnessed a growth of 1.0 percent, Livestock 4.1 percent, Forestry 3.2 percent and Fishing 5.8 percent

Cotton Crop Situation 2014-15 During 2014-15, cotton production stood at 13,983

thousand bales as compared to 12,769 thousand bales in 2013-14 and registered an increase of 9.5 percent. Cotton plays a major role in earning foreign exchange .The cotton crop production accounts for 1.5 percent in GDP and 7.1 percent in agriculture value addition. During July-March 2014-15, textile industry fetched foreign exchange of US$ 10.22 billion. During 2014- 15, the cropped area of cotton stood at 2961 thousand hectares, showing an increase of 5.5 percent over last year’s area of 2806 thousand hectares.

Wheat Crop Situation 2014-15 Wheat is the leading food grain of Pakistan occupying the largest

area under single crop. Wheat contributes 10.0 percent to the value added in agriculture and 2.1 percent to GDP.

Area under wheat has decreased to 9180 thousand hectares in 2014-15 from last year’s area of 9199 thousand hectares which shows a decrease of 0.2 percent

Wheat production decreased to 25,478 thousand tonnes in 2014-15 as compared to 25,979 thousand tonnes iwheatn 2013-14 showing a decrease of 1.9 percent.

Rice Crop Situation 2014-15 Rice is the second largest staple food crop and is also an

exportable item. It accounts for 3.2 percent in the value added in agriculture and 0.7 percent of GDP.

During 2014-15, rice was sown on an area of 2891 thousand hectares showing an increase of 3.6 percent over last year’s area of 2789 thousand hectares

Rice production has increased to 7,005 thousand tonnes in 2014-15 as compared to 6,798 thousand tonnes in 2013-14

showing an increase of 3.0 percent.

Sugarcane crop Situation 2014-15 Sugarcane is an important cash crop of Pakistan. It is mainly

cultivated for sugar and sugarrelated production along with an input for paper and board industry. Sugarcane accounts for 3.1 percent in agriculture value addition and 0.6 percent in GDP

The cropped area for sugarcane stood at 1141 thousand hectares during 2014-15 against last year’s area of 1173 thousand hectares showing a decrease of 2.7 percent. Sugarcane production for the year

Sugarcane production has decreased to 62,652 thousand tonnes in 2014-15, as compared to 67,460 thousand tonnes last year, and registered a decrease of 7.1 percent.

The decrease in production is due to decrease in cropped area over last year as well competitive crop (rice and cotton) discouraged the growers to bring more area under cultivation and disposal problems of sugarcane and payments difficulties also restricted the acreage of sugarcane

Maize Crop Situation 2014-15 Maize grain is an important food grain and produces an

array of products as raw material for multi products and value additions. It contributes 2.1 percent to the value added in agriculture and 0.4 percent to GDP.

Area under maize crop has decreased to 1130 thousand hectares in 2014-15, showing a decrease of 3.3 percent over last year’s area of 1168 thousand hectares.

Maize production had decreased to 4,695 thousand tonnes in 2014-15, as compared to 4,944 thousand tonnes in 2013-14 showing a decrease of 5.0 percent.

Other Crops 2014-15 Other crops that contributed 11.1 percent

value addition in agriculture witnessed a positive growth of 1.1 percent in 2014-15, against negative growth of 5.4 percent during the same period last year

Gram Crop Situation 2014-15 Gram production has increased to 484 thousand tonnes in

2014-15 as compared to 399 thousand tonnes in 2014-15, showing an increase of 21.3 percent.

Oil Seeds Crops Situation The major oilseed crops grown in the country include

Sunflower, Canola, Rapeseed/Mustard and Cotton. During 2013-14 total availability of edible oil was 3.20 million tonnes. Local production of edible oil contributed 0.573 million tonnes while import of edible oil/oilseeds was 2.627 million tonnes. The edible oil import bill during 2013-14 was Rs. 246.895 billion (US$ 2.50 billion).

Potatoes, Moong, Onions and Chillies During July-March 2014-15, the production of Potatoes,

Moong, Onions and Chillies increased by 6.3 percent, 6.2 percent, 1.3 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. While production of other pulses Mash and Masoor (Lentil) decreased by 12.7 and 5.8 percent, respectively.

Seed Procured 2014-15During July-March, 2014-15 about

446.1 thousand tonnes of improved seeds of various Kharif/Rabi crops were procured.

Credit Disbursed 2014-15 During July- March, 2014-15, the banks have

disbursed Rs. 326.0 billion which is 65.2 percent of the overall annual target of Rs. 500 billion and 27.5 percent higher than disbursement of Rs. 255.7 billion made during the corresponding period last year. The banks were able to achieve 65 percent of their annual indicative targets of Rs 500 billion.

Water Availability 2014-15 During 2014-15, the availability of water for Kharif 2014

stood at 69.3 MAF showing an increase of 5.8 percent more than Kharif 2013 and 3.3 percent more than the normal supplies of 67.1 . MAF. The water availability during Rabi season 2014-15 is estimated at 33.1 MAF, which is 1.8 percent higher than Rabi 2013-14 but 9.1 percent less than the normal availability of 36.4

Fertilizers Used 2014-15 Kharif 2014 started with inventory of 386 thousand

tonnes of urea. Total availability of urea (including 122 thousand tonnes of imported supplies and 2451 thousand tonnes of domestic production) was about 2959 thousand tonnes against the offtake of 2716 thousand tonnes, leaving an inventory of 184 thousand tonnes for Rabi 2014-15.

Fertilizers Used 2014-15 Total availability of DAP during Kharif 2014 was 1023

thousand tonnes comprising 99 thousand tonnes of inventory, 524 thousand tonnes of imported supplies and 400 thousand tonnes of local production. DAP offtake was 586 thousand tonnes leaving closing balance of 430 thousand tonnes for coming Rabi 2014-15