Pakistan’s Biggest Crops Deliver Just 0.6% Growth in FY26
Pakistan’s agriculture sector grew 2.9% in FY2025-26, driven by higher wheat, sugarcane and rice production. Record sugarcane output reached 89.4 million tons, while cotton and maize declined. Livestock expanded 3.8%, helping offset mixed crop performance across the sector.
Pakistan’s agriculture sector posted modest growth in FY2025-26, with stronger wheat and sugarcane production offset by weak performance in cotton and maize, according to provisional estimates from the upcoming Economic Survey.
The agriculture sector is estimated to have expanded by 2.9 percent during the fiscal year, while growth in important crops stood at just 0.6 percent, highlighting the uneven performance across major agricultural commodities.
Wheat production increased by 4.3 percent to 29.6 million tons, supported by a 4.4 percent increase in cultivated area. Sugarcane emerged as the strongest-performing major crop, with output rising 6.2 percent to a record 89.4 million tons.
Rice production also recorded moderate growth, increasing 2.8 percent year-on-year to 9.9 million tons. However, gains in these crops were largely offset by declines elsewhere.
Maize production fell 2.7 percent during the year despite cultivated area remaining largely unchanged. Cotton production declined by 0.5 percent to around 7.05 million bales, while the area under cotton cultivation also contracted by 1.5 percent, underscoring the continued challenges facing one of Pakistan’s most important cash crops.
The mixed crop performance comes despite a 3.6 percent decline in cultivated area, suggesting productivity improvements in some segments of the agriculture sector. Analysts noted that wheat and sugarcane were the primary contributors to growth, while cotton and maize continued to weigh on overall crop output.
Beyond the major crops, several agricultural products posted strong gains. Chickpea production surged 50.4 percent, potato output rose 27.6 percent, banana production increased 30.8 percent, and mango production climbed 11.6 percent. Production of turmeric and chilies also recorded notable increases.
Meanwhile, the livestock sector, which accounts for the largest share of agricultural value added, grew 3.8 percent during the fiscal year. The fisheries sector expanded 1.7 percent, while cotton ginning and other agricultural activities recorded growth of just 0.1 percent.
To Read more about Sugar Industry, Rice News and Wheat News continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : Pro Pakistani
