The Importance of Agriculture in Pakistan

This article discusses the importance of agriculture in Pak istan. It provides a brief overview of how agriculture works in Pakistan, including the use of agricultural inputs, water resources, and land reform. In addition, you will learn about the political and economic aspects of agriculture in Pakistan. Towards the end, you will learn how agriculture can help improve Pakistan's economic well-being.

Economic importance of agriculture in pakistan

Agriculture is an important sector of the Pakistani economy and employs a substantial portion of the workforce. It also contributes significantly to GDP and food security. Unfortunately, the sector is suffering from low productivity and a lack of credit and extension services. It also faces land fragmentation, with small pieces of land owned by many people. This makes it difficult to efficiently farm and sell crops.

Food and drink products made up 70 percent of agricultural imports from 1985 to 1998. The main exports include cotton, rice, fruit and vegetables. Imports include wheat flour, vegetable oils, pulses, tea, and refined sugar. In some years, these products account for as much as 80 percent of agricultural imports.

In most LDCs, agriculture is the major source of income. In Pakistan, agricultural production makes up two-thirds of GDP. In addition, it employs the largest part of the population. Among the workforce, women make up the largest proportion. Despite this, however, they often perform tasks that are not recognized in national-level statistics. Furthermore, the cultural basis of gender in Pakistan often inhibits the role of women in agriculture.

Agriculture in Pakistan has long been an important part of the economy. It accounts for almost half of the labour force and contributes a significant portion of export earnings. The major crops of Pakistan include cotton, rice, sugarcane, and wheat. Wheat is the country's most important food crop, and the country produces more wheat per capita than all of Africa combined.

Other important crops of Pakistan are cotton, maize, and sugarcane. They account for about 63 percent of the total cropped area. The country is the fifth-largest producer of cotton yarn and the second largest exporter of cotton yarn. Wheat is the staple food crop and is produced in two seasons, kharif and rabi. Sugarcane is an important source of protein for both human and animal consumption.

Agricultural inputs

Energy is one of the most important agricultural inputs in Pakistan. In fact, it accounts for nearly 22% of the economy and employs 45% of the workforce. It is also an important driver of economic growth. Agricultural inputs in Pakistan include fuel for tractors, fertilizers, and pesticides, seeds, and human labor. However, there is little evidence that increased inputs translate into higher yields or reduced energy use.

The per capita availability of arable land and irrigation water is shrinking, while the demand for food and industrial raw materials increases. As a result, the prices of agricultural inputs in Pakistan have skyrocketed. Rising prices of food, fuel, and other agricultural products have led to panic among consumers. Imports have weighed heavily on the country's foreign exchange reserves.

Despite Pakistan's impressive agricultural production, the country suffers from high food insecurity. According to FAO, UNICEF, and IFAD, around two thirds of its population is hungry. The prevalence of malnutrition among children under six months is particularly high. Forty-three per cent of children under six months are stunted, while one-fourth are underweight. A third of the population lives below the national poverty line, while the remaining third are poor.

Sugarcane is one of Pakistan's most important cash crops, but yields remain low. In this study, the role of education in boosting sugarcane yields was evaluated in two districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The study included 336 sugarcane growers and employed a multi-stage sampling method. The respondents were asked questions via an interview schedule. Twenty percent of respondents were illiterate, while the rest were literate and had different levels of education.

Fertilizer is an important agricultural input in Pakistan. In 1999, Pakistan used 2.6 million tons of fertilizer. In 2009, this figure had risen to 3.7 million tons. This ratio is acceptable, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. However, potash application has historically been low in Pakistan. Only two percent of farmers apply potash to their crops.

Water resources

In Pakistan, the majority of water is used for irrigation, a practice that has long dominated the nation's water economy. The country now has four storage reservoirs, 16 barrages, and 12 inter-river link canals, as well as 44 canal commands, which are used for irrigation. As the population and economy continue to grow, competition for water resources will intensify. Presently, the demand for municipal and industrial supplies in the urban areas is on the order of 5.3 billion m3, but is expected to reach fourteen billion m3 by 2025. Likewise, the total non-irrigation water use is projected to rise from 17.9 billion m3 in 2013 to 18.9 billion m3 by 2025.

The Indus River is Pakistan's lifeline, supplying water for drinking, irrigation, and hydroelectricity. In the past, unequal distribution of the river's water has been a source of conflict between the neighboring countries. As a result, the two nations have never been able to reach a water-sharing agreement. Today, both countries want to maximize their use of the river's water. Consequently, Pakistan has less water than it needs for irrigation, resulting in low crop yields.

Despite these challenges, water supply is still an important element of the country's agricultural economy. However, inequitable distribution of water in Pakistan's rural areas is putting a strain on the nation's water resources. Inequitable distribution of water causes waste and inefficiency in the irrigation sector. Moreover, inequitable distribution of water in different regions of Pakistan is also hindering agricultural productivity. In fact, Pakistan's current yields of wheat are just one percent of those in the United States. However, there is huge potential to improve crop water productivity in the country. This will help farmers earn more from their farms.

The future of Pakistan's agricultural industry depends on the effective management of water resources. Improving irrigation performance is a necessity and an opportunity. The gap between the availability of water and demand for it has reached a point where a drastic change is needed. Investing in improved storage capacities and water-use efficiency is necessary to ensure sustainable development of irrigated agriculture in the Indus Basin.

Land reform

Land reform in Pakistan has a long history. During the British occupation, Pakistan's military ruler supported some land reform efforts, but the majority of major land reforms took place after independence. Provincial legislatures passed laws removing the jagirdari system. These reforms came in phases, beginning with the late 1960s and continuing into the 1970s.

The agricultural sector in Pakistan is plagued with problems. Subsidies are often insufficient and the poor are left without any viable livelihood options. In addition, child labor is widespread in rural areas and the population is growing. This means that the amount of land per capita is decreasing. As a result, agrarian reform and land reform are needed in Pakistan.

In 1977, land reforms were initiated to address the plight of peasants, but these reforms failed, and most landowners are still struggling to get a piece of land. Even now, most peasants rely on Hari or rent-based land and lack ownership of their own land. This lack of land ownership prevents them from accessing government subsidies. In response, the government subsidizes agriculture through an interest-free loan scheme.

During the 1950s, Pakistan's Muslims League recognized the need for land redistribution after independence, and formed an agrarian reforms committee. Land reforms in Pakistan were largely influenced by the interests of major landowners and settlers. However, in 1959, Prime Minister Ayub Khan initiated Pakistan's first land reforms and set limits on the amount of land that a farmer could hold. Despite the restrictions, land reforms in Pakistan helped farmers improve their livelihoods by promoting the adoption of tractors and other agricultural equipment.

The main objective of land reform in Pakistan is to improve the conditions of peasants and improve their socioeconomic conditions. These reforms aim to alleviate poverty and redistribute income to the peasants, while at the same time generating employment, education, and health services for the entire community. This land reform movement focuses on the younger generation.

Contract farming

The growing urban population and small landholdings are two major reasons for contract farming in Pakistan. The agricultural land in the country is generally small, with 64 percent of the total area under small farms. The growing urban population requires a continuous supply of fresh food, and new food processing plants, supermarkets, and department stores are emerging in many cities.

With the liberalization of markets, contract farming offers farmers the potential to earn additional foreign exchange from their crops. Bank credit offers small-scale farmers the chance to buy improved technology and higher quality seeds. KSSL-approved credit facilities facilitate farmers in procuring loans and other credit facilities. This business model also encourages the production of cash crops and export-oriented crops.

Contract farming involves several challenges, and good management is the key to success. In addition to monitoring production, the sponsoring organization must also monitor the performance of employees. If production is too high, it can compromise market efficiency and lead to unpopular quota reductions. In addition to managing operations, sponsors must ensure that the project does not suffer from corruption.

The concept of contract farming has gained significant importance in the small-scale farming sector of developing countries. A number of studies have evaluated the impact of contract farming on smallholder welfare. Ton et al., Meemken & Bellemare, and Barrett et al. have examined the impact of contract farming on total household income and contracted crops.

Contract farming is a viable option for many farmers in Pakistan. The contractual mechanism helps both parties earn better livings. However, many farmers end up with significant indebtedness, often increasing to uneconomic levels.