Pakistan has fallen short of its wheat production target for the Rabi season 2024-2025, with an estimated production of 28.42 million tons from 9.1 million hectares, against the target of 33.58 million tons from 10.368 million hectares.
Reports shared during the Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) meeting, presided over by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) Rana Tanveer Hussain, revealed that wheat production for the 2024-2025 season has decreased by 10% compared to the previous year.
The FCA had set a wheat crop production target of 33.58 million tons in its meeting held in November 2024.
However, the final production figures indicate a shortfall in meeting the target.
The meeting also provided estimates for other key crops. Onion production for 2024-2025 is expected to reach 2.7 million tons from 0.17 million hectares, showing an increase of 15.7%, despite a 17.3% decrease in the area cultivated.
Tomato production is estimated at 654,000 tons from 53,000 hectares, reflecting an 8.8% increase in production, with a 4.8% increase in the cultivated area.
Similarly, potato production is projected at 654,000 tons, with an 8.8% increase in production.
During the meeting, the FCA also reviewed the performance of Rabi crops and established production targets for the Kharif season 2025-2026.
The committee set a cotton production target of 10.18 million bales from an area of 2.2 million hectares and a rice production target of 9.17 million tons from over 3 million hectares of land.
The sugarcane production target for 2025-2026 was set at 80.3 million tons from 1.1 million hectares, and the maize target was set at 9.7 million tons from over 1.5 million hectares.
Moreover, the FCA also established targets for mung, maash, and chili crops.
Additionally, officials from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported a 39% below-average precipitation from January to April 2025, with April experiencing 60% below-average rainfall, particularly in southern regions like Sindh and Balochistan.
The department also forecasted above-normal temperatures across most of the country during this period.
From May to July 2025, above-normal precipitation is expected, except for May, with temperatures also anticipated to remain above normal, except in July.
The meeting was attended by representatives from provincial agriculture departments, IRSA, PMD, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd (ZTBL), National Fertilizer Development Centre (NFDC), Agriculture Policy Institute (API), Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department, Department of Plant Protection (DPP), Federal Water Management, Pakistan Oil Seed Board, Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation, senior officials of MNFS&R, and the Chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).
Read more
PASSCO MD suspended for being negligent in wheat procurement process
Punjab government announces Kisan Package for wheat farmers, official launch tomorrow
Maryam Nawaz approves Rs15 billion wheat support fund, announces relief for Punjab’s farmers
