Despite the wheat shortfall, other crops demonstrated growth. Onion production is projected to reach 2.7 million tons, a 15.7% increase, even with a 17.3% reduction in cultivated area. Tomato and potato yields each rose by 8.8%, achieving 654,000 tons from 53,000 hectares. Rana Tanveer Hussain noted: “The government is making efforts to assist farmers by providing inputs at affordable prices and ensuring better prices for their produce to bridge the gap between production costs and output prices.”
The FCA also established production goals for the Kharif Season 2025-2026. Cotton targets are set at 10.18 million bales from 2.2 million hectares, rice at 9.17 million tons from over 3 million hectares, sugarcane at 80.3 million tons from 1.1 million hectares, and maize at 9.7 million tons from 1.5 million hectares. These targets aim to bolster agricultural output and support food security.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported a 39% below-average rainfall from January to April 2025, with a 60% deficit in April, particularly affecting Sindh and Balochistan. The PMD forecasts above-normal precipitation from May to July 2025 across most regions, except in May, with temperatures expected to remain above average, except in July. The PMD stated: “Deficiency of soil moisture condition may hurdle the sowing of Kharif crops especially in Northern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Northern Balochistan due to the expected drier conditions during May, 2025.”
The FCA meeting, attended by representatives from provincial agriculture departments, the PMD, the State Bank of Pakistan, and other agricultural bodies, reviewed Rabi crop performance and planned for the upcoming Kharif season. Discussions emphasized efficient water use and timely input availability to support farmers, with agricultural credit allocations for 2024-2025 increased by 16% to Rs. 2,572 billion.
