Smaller cultivated area offset by higher yields, lifting rice production to a record 9.99 million tonnes
ISLAMABAD: Rice cultivation in Pakistan declined during the 2025-26 crop season as farmers shifted to alternative crops offering better returns, although improved yields enabled the country to achieve record rice production.
According to official agricultural data, rice remained Pakistan’s second most important staple food after wheat and the country’s second-largest export commodity after cotton. During the year, the crop contributed 0.5 per cent to the national gross domestic product (GDP) and 2.2 per cent to agricultural value addition.
The area under rice cultivation declined by 3.6 per cent compared with the previous crop season as many growers opted for alternative crops in response to prevailing market prices and changing economic conditions.
Despite the reduction in cultivated area, rice production rose by 2.8 per cent to a record 9.99 million tonnes during 2025-26, up from 9.72 million tonnes in the previous year.
The increase in production was driven by a 6.6 per cent improvement in average yield, which reached 2,660 kilograms per hectare, supported by improved water availability across major rice-growing regions.
According to the official report, although monsoon floods initially raised concerns about potential damage to the crop, subsequent assessments showed that the overall impact remained limited. In several rice-producing areas, additional water supplied by the monsoon contributed to better crop growth and higher yields.
Officials said the decline in cultivated acreage largely reflected farmers’ planting decisions, with many choosing crops that offered more attractive market returns than rice during the sowing season.
The report noted that the significant improvement in productivity more than compensated for the reduction in cultivated land, allowing Pakistan to achieve its highest-ever rice output despite fewer hectares being planted.
The record harvest is expected to support domestic food security and strengthen Pakistan’s rice exports, which remain an important source of foreign exchange earnings for the country.