Islamabad, 25 Apr, 2025: Wheat production in Pakistan has fallen well below expectations for the Rabi 2024–25 season, with national output recorded at 28.42 million tons roughly 10 percent lower than last year’s harvest and considerably below the official goal of 33.58 million tons.
The government had aimed to cultivate 10.368 million hectares, yet sowing was limited to just 9.1 million hectares.
This assessment emerged during a recent meeting of the Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA), held on April 24, 2025.
The session was chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, alongside Minister of State Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan.
Senior representatives from provincial agriculture departments, the State Bank of Pakistan, PARC, and other agencies were also in attendance.
Despite the disappointing wheat production figures, officials noted some positive developments. Vegetable yields performed strongly, with onion output rising by 15.7 percent to reach 2.7 million tons, despite a 17.3 percent drop in cultivated area.
Tomato harvests rose by 8.8 percent to 654,000 tons, while potatoes saw an 11.7 percent increase, hitting 9.3 million tons from 0.37 million hectares.
Looking ahead to the Kharif 2025–26 season, the committee set ambitious cultivation targets: 10.18 million bales of cotton from 2.2 million hectares, 9.17 million tons of rice from 3 million hectares, 80.3 million tons of sugarcane from 1.1 million hectares, and 9.7 million tons of maize from 1.5 million hectares. Production plans for mung beans, mash, and chilies were also outlined.
However, looming weather challenges threaten the outlook. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported a 39 percent drop in average rainfall between January and April 2025, with a 60 percent shortfall in April most pronounced in Sindh and Balochistan.
Continued dry spells in May could impact sowing efforts in Northern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and parts of Balochistan.
READ MORE: Government Sets Wheat Production Target at 33.58 Million Tons
While temperatures are expected to stay above seasonal norms, meteorologists anticipate improved rainfall from June onwards.
Water supply for Kharif crops is forecast at 60.5 million acre-feet at canal heads. Authorities emphasized the importance of efficient water use and timely access to farming inputs.
On a brighter note, seed stocks for rice and maize are reported to be sufficient, and agricultural credit has been increased by 16 percent to Rs. 2,572 billion for the current fiscal year, signaling stronger support for the farming sector.
