Islamabad, October 12, 2023 – Pakistan is looking forward to a bumper cotton harvest in the 2023-24 season, with preliminary estimates indicating a substantial increase in production.
The Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) shared the promising news that cotton output is provisionally estimated at 11.8 million bales, representing a remarkable surge of 126.6 percent. This boost in cotton production was achieved through cultivation on over 2.4 million hectares.
The FCA convened under the leadership of Caretaker Minister for National Food Security & Research, Dr. Kauser Abdullah Malik. The meeting also featured the participation of S.M. Tanveer, Minister for Agriculture, Punjab, and Asif Rafiq, Minister for Agriculture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as reported in a press release.
During the meeting, the FCA reviewed the performance of Kharif Crops for the 2023-24 season and discussed the production plan for Rabi crops in the upcoming season. The committee also examined the availability of inputs for the forthcoming season.
In addition to the optimistic outlook for cotton, it was highlighted that rice production for 2023-24 has increased by 12.7 percent compared to the previous year. The provisional estimate for rice production stands at 8.64 million tons, derived from an area of 3.35 million hectares. This indicates an increase of 12.7 percent in area and an 18 percent boost in production over the preceding year.
The meeting also presented figures for other crops, including mung beans, mash, and chili. While there is a slight decrease in the area under mung bean cultivation, production is expected to increase. Similarly, mash output and chili production are anticipated to rise, despite a minor decline in the area under cultivation.
The FCA set production targets for Rabi crops, with the wheat target being fixed at 32.12 million tons, cultivated across 8.9 million hectares. Production targets for other crops, such as gram, potato, onion, and tomato, were also established.
Despite the anticipation of a 15 percent water shortage for Punjab and Sindh during the Rabi season, prevailing weather conditions are conducive to agriculture. The Metrological Department forecasts normal to slightly above normal precipitation in most parts of the country, with slightly below-normal rainfall expected in the plains of Punjab and Sindh during October. However, the situation is manageable.
The FCA stressed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers by providing affordable inputs and ensuring better prices for their produce, bridging the gap between production costs and output prices in favor of farmers.
Furthermore, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has assigned an annual indicative agricultural credit disbursement target of Rs. 2,250 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24. This target represents a substantial increase from the previous year’s disbursement. In the initial two months of FY 2023-24, agricultural lending institutions disbursed Rs. 326 billion, which is 44 percent higher than the disbursement during the same period last year.
For the upcoming Rabi season in 2023-24, the FCA expects stable supplies of urea and DAP, which are essential fertilizers for crop cultivation. These developments reflect Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its agriculture sector, enhance food security, and support the well-being of its farming community.
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