ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s agriculture sector has missed the growth target of 4.5 percent set for the outgoing financial year and grew by 2.89 percent, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26 released on Thursday.
The Survey noted that the agriculture sector recorded a growth of 2.89 percent, compared to 1.53 percent during the same period last year. Cotton and maize production contracted by 0.5 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively, it said.
It further stated that sugarcane registered growth of 6.2 percent (rising from 84.24 to 89.45 million tons), followed by wheat at 4.3 percent (increasing from 28.40 to 29.61 million tons), and rice at 2.8 percent (up from 9.72 to 9.99 million tons).
During 2025-26 the livestock sub-sector, a major component of agriculture and an important contributor to the overall economy, expanded by 3.75 percent, against 2.95 percent in 2024-25. This performance was supported by a 3.46 percent increase in output, notwithstanding a 4.5 percent decline in green fodder availability.
According to the Economic Survey, during 2025-26, cotton was sown on 2.01 million hectares, a 1.5 percent decline in area compared to 2.04 million hectares last year, the production of cotton declined by 0.5 percent to 7.05 million bales from 7.08 million bales last year.
Decrease in production was mainly associated with a reduction in area sown, as farmers continued to adjust cropping choices in response to relative returns and competing Kharif crop options.
Wheat was cultivated over an area of 9.48 million hectares, compared to 9.07 million hectares last year, reflecting an increase of 4.4 percent, wheat production increased by 4.3 percent to 29.61 million tons, compared with 28.40 million tons last year, supported by an expansion in area sown. The favourable input conditions at the time of sowing provided important support to crop performance.
During 2025-26, despite 3.6 percent decline in area as compared to last year, the production of rice increased by 2.8 percent to 9.99 million tons from 9.72 million tons. The increase was driven by a 6.6 percent improvement in yield, which reached 2,660 kg/hectares.
The Survey noted that the area under sugarcane cultivation expanded by 2.4 percent to 1.22 million hectares during 2025-26 and production increased by 6.2 percent to 89.45 million tons, driven by a 3.7 percent improvement in yield to 73,200 kg/hectares. This was mainly driven by higher expected returns compared to competing crops like cotton and maize, thereby encouraging farmers to expand sugarcane cultivation.
Maize was sown on 1.59 million hectares showing a decrease of 0.1 percent over last year whereas its production declined by 2.7 percent to 8.79 million tons from 9.04 million tons.
During 2025-26, the production of gram, potato, chillies, moong, and bajra increased by 50.4 percent, 27.6 percent, 23.5 percent, 15.2 percent, and 7.2 percent, respectively, mainly due to expansion in the cultivated area. On the other hand, production of onion, mash, masoor, barley, and jawar declined by 2.2 percent, 3.7 percent, 8.0 percent, 6.6 percent, and 12.3 percent, respectively.
Livestock industry has become the primary driver of agricultural growth, accounting for 62.4 percent of agriculture’s value addition and 14.6 percent of GDP in 2025-26. The sector has experienced steady growth, with its gross value addition increasing from Rs6,004 billion in financial year2025 to Rs6,229 billion in financial year 2026, reflecting a growth of 3.75 percent.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026