Overview
Agriculture serves as the cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, constituting 19% of the GDP and, in tandem with agro-based products, contributing a substantial 80% to the nation’s total export revenue. A significant 42.3% of the labor force is dedicated to this pivotal sector.
Punjab, the most densely populated province, assumes a central role in the country’s agricultural landscape. It accounts for a substantial portion of the national agricultural production, contributing 19% to the GDP and providing livelihoods for 48% of the population. Notably, it plays a pivotal role in supplying raw materials to key industries such as textiles, leather, rice processing, edible oils, sugar, and various food processing sectors.
The agricultural sector also plays a crucial role in bolstering Pakistan’s exports, with three-quarters of the total export share stemming from agriculture, of which 60% hails from Punjab. Over the years, Punjab has consistently strived to address the challenges of ensuring food security.
Punjab emerges as the second-largest province, encompassing 25.9% of the nation’s total land, spanning an expansive area of 20.63 million hectares. A comprehensive land utilization status is available for 86% of the total territory, while the remaining 14% remains unaccounted for. An additional 14% of the land is unsuitable for agriculture, either due to exceptional fertility or infrastructure occupancy, leaving only 72% available for cultivation.
Within this, 10.81 million hectares (53%) constitute net sown area, which sees cultivation at least once a year. 9% of the land falls into the category of current fallow, where no cultivation occurs during the year, while 8% is designated as culturable waste, land left uncultivated for over three years and included in the cultivated area.
According to the 2016-17 Agricultural Census, Punjab boasted 5,249,800 agriculture farms, primarily comprising very small holdings. A staggering 42% of these farms are less than one hectare in size. Farms ranging from one to ten hectares collectively make up half of the total number of farms and occupy 68.9% of the total agricultural land. Larger farms, covering 10 hectares and beyond, constitute 22.2% of the total farm area.
The total cropped area in Punjab amounted to 16.68 million hectares, with 5.87 million hectares under multiple cropings in the same year. In 2018-19, wheat cultivation encompassed 40% of the land, followed by cotton at 11.5% and rice at 12.8% of Punjab’s total cropped area.
To cater to the needs of the province’s livestock population, fodder was cultivated on 11% of the land, with maize and sugarcane occupying 4.2% and 4.8% of the area, respectively. Oilseeds, pulses, and vegetables were cultivated on 12% of the agricultural land.
The overarching mission remains steadfast: to ensure food security, bolster the national economy, and transform agriculture into a cost-effective, knowledge-driven sector. This transformation prioritizes the welfare of farmers and the sustainable realization of 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 Fallow | 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 |