Agriculture growth target missed

Pakistan missed the target of agriculture growth during 2011-12 as agriculture sector registered a growth of 3.13 percent against the target of 3.4 percent. According to Economic Survey 2011-12, the country missed agriculture growth target because of negative growth of wheat and minor cops during 2011-12. Wheat registered a negative growth of 6.7 percent mainly due to 2.6 percent decline in area under cultivation and delayed sowing.

Wheat contributes 12.5 percent to the value added to agriculture and 2.6 percent to GDP. Wheat was cultivated on an area of 8666 thousands hectares in 2011-12, showing a decrease of 2.6 percent over last year””s area of 8901 thousands hectares. The production of 23.5 million tons is estimated during 2011-12. The yield per hectare in 2011-12 showed a negative growth of 4.2 percent as compared 11 percent growth last year.

Minor crops growth also showed a decline of 1.26 percent. Minor crops contributed 10.1 percent value addition in agriculture and exhibited a negative growth of 1.3 percent in 2011-12 against 2.7 percent growth of 2011. Gram production was 291 thousand tons, against the 496 thousands tons of last year, showing a reduction of 41.3 percent during 2011-12, which is attributed to unfavourable weather conditions. The other crops like Bajra, Tobacco, Jawar and barley also, witnessed a decline in production of 12.1 percent, 8.7 percent, 2.8 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively in 2011-12 as compared to the corresponding period last year.

Similarly, the production of chillies, onion, masoor and mash decreased by 78.3 percent, 15.4 percent, 12.8 percent and 3.5 percent respectively. The sowing area of masoor, onion and chillies decreased by 13.8 percent, 14.9 percent and 65.7 percent, respectively. However, the production of mung and potato increased by 22.0 percent and 17.5 percent respectively during the 2001-1. There was in increase of area sown for mung and potatoes by 2.5 percent and 16.2 percent, respectively.

The Survey revealed that the major crops excluding wheat registered a growth of 3.18 percent .The major crops including cotton, sugarcane and rice witnessed growth in production of 18.6 percent, 4.9 percent and 27.7 percent respectively. Major crops, such as wheat, rice, cotton and sugarcane account for 91 percent of the value added in the major crops. The value added in major crops accounts for 32 percent of the value added in the agriculture. Thus, four major crops (wheat, rice, cotton, and sugarcane) on average, contribute 29 percent to the value added in overall agriculture and 6.0 percent to GDP. The minor crops account for 10.1 percent of the value added in overall in agriculture.

Cotton, which significantly contributes to the national economy by providing raw material to the textile industry, such as cotton lint as an export item. It accounts for 7.8 percent of value added in agriculture and 1.6 percent of GDP. During the 2011-12 the crop was cultivated on an area of 2835 thousands hectares, 5.4 percent more than the last year (2689 thousand hectares).

The production is reported at 13.6 million bales during July-March 2011-2012, higher by 18.6 percent over the last year””s production of 11.5 million bales.

Sugarcane is the second major cash crop and is used as a raw material in the production of refined sugar and gur. Its share in value added in agriculture and GDP is 3.7 and 0.8 percent, respectively. It was cultivated on an area of 1,046 thousands hectares, 5.9 percent higher than last years level of 988 thousands hectares. Sugarcane production for the year 2011-12 is estimated at 58.0 million tons, in contrast to last year production of 55.3 million tons. This shows an increase of 4.9 percent over the production of last year. However, the yield per hectare if compared with last year, posted a negative growth.

Rice accounts 4.9 percent of the value added in agriculture and 1.0 percent in GDP. The sown area for rice was 2571 thousand hectares, 8.7 percent more than the last year. The production of the crop is an estimated 6160 thousands tons, 27.7 percent more than the 4823 thousands tons produced last year. The yield per hectare has shown improved growth of 17.5 percent as compared to -14.6 percent last year.

During 2011-12 the production of maize increased by 15.2 percent, while rapeseed and mustard rose by 5.7 percent. The major oilseed crops grown in the country include sunflower, canola, cottonseed, rapeseed and mustard. Although the cotton crop is grown for its lint, cotton-seed contributes 50 to 60 percent of local edible oil production. At present total requirement of edible oil in the country is 2.045 million tons. During the year 2011-12 1.467 million tons of edible oil of worth Rs 145 billion was imported. Local production during 2011-2012 was 0.636 million tons.

Livestock registered a growth of 4.04 percent against the growth of 3.97 percent last year. Livestock contribute 55.1 percent to agriculture value added much more than the combined contribution of major and minor crops (41.9 percent). Livestock contributed approximately 55.1 percent to the agricultural value added and 11.6 percent to national GDP during 2010-12, against 54.6 percent and 11.6 percent during the same period last year.

Fisheries sector witnessed a growth of 1.78 percent against the growth of 1.94 percent last year. Forestry recorded growth at 0.95 percent as compared to the contraction of 0.40 percent last year. During 2011-12, forests have contributed 92 thousand cubic meters of timber and 262 thousand cubic meters of firewood as compared to 91 thousand cubic meters timber and 261 thousand cubic meters firewood in 2010-11.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012

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