Agriculture

Agriculture

Punjab, often called Pakistan's granary for its largely self-sustaining agrarian character, possesses considerable differential agricultural advantage. Well established infrastructure network ranging from fertile lands to over 40,000 km of farm to market access roads makes a strong case for corporate farming, agri-processing industries, inputs industries (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and farm equipment), integrated cold chain systems and industry for preservation of fruits and vegetables.

Agriculture is mainstay of Pakistan's economy. The most populated province of Punjab provides the largest share in national agricultural production. Agriculture offers 21% of the GDP and gives employment to 47% of the population. It contributes in provision of raw materials to major industries; textile, leather, rice processing, edible oil, sugar and various food processing industries. Pakistan′s total export has 75% share of agriculture and 60% of this share comes from Punjab. Over years, Punjab has tried to meet the challenges of food security.

Punjab becomes the second largest province making 25.9% of country′s total land, with its area of 20.63 million hectares. Statistics of 2014 shows that Punjab′s total cropped area was 16.68 million hectares. In 2015, wheat was cropped in 42% of the land similarly cotton occupies 14 %, rice 11.3% , fodder 10.6%, Maize 4.1%, Sugarcane 4.3% and Oilseeds, pulses and vegetables were cropped only in 10 % of the area.

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