You are on page 1of 8

STATISTICAL STUDY OF AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN

BY
Ms AmbreenZebKhaskhelly Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan. Email: ambrzk_khas@hotmail.com Engr.Imran Anwar Ujan
Assistant Professor, Institute of Information & Communication Technology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.

Email: iujan@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
Agriculture is largest sector of Pakistan economy. The major objectives of this paper are to document and examine the performance of agriculture in various sectors of the economy, identify the problems that affect growth and performance and recommend strategies for sustainability of agricultural sector in the next decade. The paper analyzed is 1950-55 to 2002-2003. The major conclusion drawn from this paper production shows that between 1950 55 and 2002 03 for all major as well as minor crops, there has been increase almost in total output over the years. The implementation of green revolution had created employment opportunities in crop production sub-sector. Empirical evidence on land reforms establishes that net incomes of tenants have increased faster than those of landlords. The impact of mechanisation on income distribution shows that only big farmers benefited from the tractor tube well technology. Pakistan faces serious problems of its forest reserve, if this situation continues; Pakistan will loose most of its forest in the next 40years. . This paper recommends some measures as a positive step towards addressing the above problems so as to improve the performance of the agricultural sector.

Problem Statements
Recent evidence reveals a dismal picture of agricultural sector in Pakistan. From input output analysis conducted by analysts, it was concluded that the agricultural sector has had a decreasing returns on these inputs. These decreasing returns cannot be termed as overall decreasing returns because the supplies of land and water are much less elastic and cannot be increased.

Objectives The objectives of the paper are:


(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) To examine agricultural production, green revolution and land reforms. To assess the impact of farm mechanisation on income, productivity and employment. To analyse forestry and fisheries issues. To examine livestock and poultry issues. To evaluate rural development programmes and their impact on rural communities.

Production of major Crops


Total production shows that between 1950 1955 and 2002 2003 for all major as well as minor crops, there has been a very substantial increase almost in total output over the . Although overall output for major crops has increased, what is discerning is that the rate of increase, the average annual growth rate of major crops since 1980 has fallen. In the decade 1980 1990, the average annual growth of major crops was 3.34%, which fell to around 2.4% in the 1990s. While lower rates of increases in output and area were disturbing factor, so too is the instability and variability in output from year to year.

Table 1 Area under Major Crops 1950 2003 (000 Hectares)

Descriptive Statistics N Wheat Rice Sugarcane Cotton Valid N (listwise) 11 11 11 11 11 Minimum 4154.0 947.0 245.6 1275.8 Maximum 8306.6 2333.8 1086.0 3002.4 Mean 6.427E3 1.692E3 699.836 2.059E3 Std. Deviation 1472.7283 480.3408 277.0230 621.2462

Table 2 Production of Major Crops 1950 2003 (000 Tonnes)

Descriptive Statistics N Wheat Rice Sugercane Cotton Valid N (listwise) 11 11 11 9 9 Minimum 3235.8 837.2 7192.6 1995.8 Maximum 19235.0 4487.0 52049.0 10211.0 Mean 9.954E3 2.544E3 2.751E4 5.964E3 Std. Deviation 5923.0501 1359.4506 15153.0149 3367.2543

Table 3 Yield of Major Agricultural Crops 1950 2003 (Kg/Hectare)


Descriptive Statistics N Wheat Rice Sugercane Maize Grain Cotton Valid N (listwise) 11 11 11 7 7 11 7 Minimum 776.6 846.8 28.2 1160.0 452.0 212.0 Maximum 2384.0 2012.0 47927.0 1812.0 615.0 621.0 Mean 1.452E3 1.465E3 3.518E4 1.413E3 528.714 386.945 Std. Deviation 578.4845 403.6192 13007.2722 236.8086 65.3930 159.3251

Table 4 Per Capita Availability of main Food Items 1986 2002 (Percentage)
Descriptive Statistics N Wheat Rice Meat Milk Valid N (listwise) 5 5 5 5 5 Minimum 112.1 10.6 12.2 56.9 Maximum 131.4 20.8 16.5 83.1 Mean 117.946 16.376 14.248 69.880 Std. Deviation 7.9728 4.2983 1.5557 12.2139

Problems of Agriculture Water scarcity, water and wind, erosion, loss of organic matter from the soil be addressed. Currently the country has been confronted with problems related to surplus production of some food commodities and the increased supplies are difficult to procure. The support [rice policies formulated to safeguard the interest of the producers and to stabilise the prices are not functioning well. Marine resources of the coastal areas are also under threat. mangrove cutting affect partially coastal areas. Fresh water resources are also becoming increasingly polluted. Soil erosion has caused crop yield to dwindle. Pesticide consumption is increasingly alarming in Pakistan. Consumption of pesticides has increased from 665tonnes in 1980 to 47,592tonnes in 2003 Farmers in Sindh Province in particular are adversely affected by the water crises since they are at the tail end of the canal system and they cannot use the ground-water. Irrigation has not been an unmitigated blessing. Canal water seeps through porous, sandy soil of the Indus basin, this poor drainage have over the years, raised the sub ground water and salt content. This has resulted in water logging and salinity over vast tracts of land. Untreated urban sewage,

The weaknesses both in structure as well as methodology for technology transfer for the small farmers will lead to failure in our extension system. The low and stagnating intensity of research investment in Pakistan is worrisome. Compared to other industrialised countries our investment is very low.

The existing animal quarantine facilities in the country need up gradation and capacity building in order to fulfil international quality control requirements

1.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATONS Summary


The objectives of this paper were to document and examine the performance of Pakistans agriculture in various sectors of the economy. Identify the problems that affect growth and performance and recommend strategies for sustainability of agricultural sector in the next decade.

Conclusions
The major conclusions drawn from this paper were: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) Total production shows that 1950 1955 and 2002 2003 for all major as well as minor crops there has been substantial increase in almost in total output over the years. In 1999 2000 both total production of wheat and rice fell sharply in three years as did production of all food grains. The implementation of Green Revolution created employment opportunities in crop production sub-sector. On the issue of land reforms, empirical evidence in Pakistan seems to conclusively establish that net incomes of tenants have been increased faster than those of landlords. From the impact of mechanisation on income distribution, it seems that only big farmers have used the tractor-tubewell technology. Pakistan faces serious problems of depletion of its forest reserves, so far. 39,000 hectares of forest reserve is being cleared every year. If deforestation continues Pakistan will lose most of its forest within the next 40years. (vii) (viii) (ix) During the year 2004 2005, a total of 90.225million tonnes of fish and fishery products were exported, earning RS7.6billion for the country. Rural population have benefited from livestock production, household holding 2 3 cattle/buffaloes and 5 6 sheep/goats per family contributing 30 40% of their income. The impact of commodities like tea, edible oil, milk production is a significant burden on foreign exchange reserve.

(x)

Past rural development programmes were successful in terms of results. The present rural development programmes are still being implemented; we are yet to evaluate their success or failure.

Recommendation
The following measures are recommended to improve and accelerate agricultural sector for better performance: (i) There is a need to reorganise the management of agriculture aiming at reducing the number of agencies involved and establishing effective linkages between major components of the system. (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Integrate the provision of inputs and supplies to the farmers possibly through a one window operation. Agriculture in Pakistan needs transformation from a traditional way of life to a modern industry to bring about a major economic uplift in rural areas. Strong emphasis need to be given during policy formulation to ensure that those responsible for agricultural production live in rural areas close to their farms. Agricultural extension service should be fully equipped with the information on most appropriate land utilisation systems for different areas and relevant production technologies and should widely disseminate this information. (vi) (vii) There is an urgent need to upgrade the whole technology system for agricultural development which consists of education, research and extension. Private sector services for special operations such as rice production, transplantation, crop protection and mechanised harvesting are still not properly organised. There is need to organise them properly so as to provide the required services to farmers. (viii) A key component of government strategy must be to reshape investment and public expenditure on agriculture, spending must be focused on the provision of public goods and correction of market failures. (ix) Policies that affect incentives distort both input and output markets and results in a suboptimal allocation of resources.

(x) (xi) (xii)

Changes in price policy, trade policy and fiscal policy are needed if agriculture in Pakistan is to continue to grow. The government should consider reducing its level of intervention in agricultural input markets. Rather than striving for self sufficiency in industrial output, Pakistan should direct its resources to their efficient uses and exploit agricultures comparative advantage to finance import requirements.

REFERENCES
Anka L. M. (1995) Marketing of Agricultural Products in Pakistan, Journal of Rural development Pp100 115. Anka L. M., Mohammed I., Maina G. A. and Khooharo A.A. (2010) Marketing of Livestock Products in North-western Nigeria, Pakistan Management Review, Vol. XLVI, No. First Quarter 2010, PP91 99. Anwar T, Qureshi S.K and Ali H. (2005) Landlessness and Rural Poverty in Pakistan. Paper presented at the 20th Annual General Meeting of Pakistan Society of Development Economics. Aslam M. (1993) Integrated Rural Development in Asia, Concept Practice and Perspective, Manohar Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, India, - 110002. Azhar B.A. (1996) Pakistan Agricultural Economics, A Book of Readings, Published by National Book Foundation Islamabad, Pakistan. Chaudhry M. G and Sahinzada S. A. (1995) Agricultural Inputs Subsidies in Pakistan, Nature and Impact Pakistan Development Review. Chaudhry M. G. (1982) Green Revolution and Redistribution of Rural Incomes - Pakistans Experience. Pakistan Development Review, Vol. 21, No.3. Faiz. M. (1986) Wealth Effects of Green Revolution in Pakistan, Pakistan Development Review (Papers and Proceedings), 25 winter, 1986, PP 489 510. and Administration, Pakistan Academy of Rural Development, Peshwar. Vol. XXVII, No. 1, winter, Jan March 1995,

GOP 1988

Report of the National Commission on Agriculture, Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.

GOP 2003 2004

Pakistan Economic Survey Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.

GOP 2008 2009

Pakistan Economic Survey Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.

Hani F. M., Khan S.A., and Nauman F.A. (2004) -

Agricultural Perspective and Policy, Ministry of

Food Agriculture and Livestock, Government of Pakistan. Khan M. H. (1985) Agrarian Transformation in Pakistan, Pakistan Development Economics, Islamabad (Lectures in Development Economics, No.4). Khan M. H. (2009) Participatory Rural Development in Pakistan, Experience of Rural Support Programmes, Oxford University Press, Karachi, Pakistan. Lubna H. (2008) An Anatomy of Failures in Forest Management in Pakistan, Pakistan development review, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2008. Malik S. J. (2005) Agricultural Growth and Rural Poverty in Pakistan. A Review of

Evidence, working paper, No. 2, Asian development bank, Islamabad. Naqvi S.N.H, Khan M. H. and Chaudhry M.G. (1989) Structural Change in Pakistans Agriculture, Pakistan Development Review, Vol. 9, No.3. Zaidi S.A. (2004) Pakistans Economic Development 1970 2003, Cambridge Economic History of India, Vol. 2 Orient Longman Hyderabad, India. Zaidi S.A. (2005) Issues in Pakistans Economy Second Edition Revised and Expanded, Oxford University Press Karachi, Pakistan.

You might also like