Agriculture of Pakistan
The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in the economic growth, food security, employment
generation, and poverty alleviation of a country, particularly at the rural level. It is
noteworthy
that this particular sector makes a significant contribution of 19.2 percent to the Gross
Domestic
Product (GDP) and plays a crucial role in generating employment opportunities for around 38.5
percent of the labour force. A significant majority, ranging from 65 to 70 percent, of the
population relies on agriculture as a means of sustenance and subsistence.
Important Crops
The crops of significant importance, namely Cotton, Sugar, Maize, Rice, and Wheat, collectively
contribute 22.49 percent to the value addition in the agriculture sector and 4.32 percent to the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The value addition of other crops in the agriculture sector amounts to
11.69 percent, while their contribution to the GDP is 2.24 percent. Table 2.3 presents the data
pertaining to the cultivation of significant crops.
livestock
Over the course of time, the livestock industry has become the predominant subsector within the
field of agriculture. During the fiscal year 2021, the agricultural sector made a significant
contribution of 60.1 percent to the value added in agriculture and 11.5 percent to the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP). Over 8 million rural households are actively involved in livestock
production, with a significant proportion of their income, ranging from 35% to 40%, being derived
from this particular economic activity. The gross value addition of livestock witnessed a rise from
Rs 1,461 billion in the fiscal year 2019-20 to Rs 1,505 billion in the fiscal year 2020-21,
indicating a growth of 3.0 percent.
Poultry
The poultry sector holds significant importance as a sub-sector of the livestock industry, since it
serves as a major source of employment for about 1.5 million individuals inside the country. With a
capital infusion over Rs 750 billion, the aforementioned industry has exhibited a commendable growth
trajectory of around 7.5 percent annually over the past ten years. Pakistan currently occupies the
11th position among the world's largest chicken producers, indicating potential for further
advancement in this sector.
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