Economic Survey 2017-18: Agriculture sector records growth of 3.81 percent

LAHORE: Agriculture posted a growth of 3.81 percent during FY 2017-18 surpassing its projected targeted growth of 3.5 percent and last fiscal years’ figure of 2.07 percent, according to Economic Survey 2017-18.

The contributing factors to this growth were from attractive output prices, higher yields, better government policies and availability of certified seeds, pesticides, agriculture credit and intensive fertilizers offtake.

Crops sector during 2017-18 posted a growth of 3.83 percent against last years growth of 0.91 percent.

Sub-sector growth in significant crops, other crops and cotton ginning posted a rise of 3.57 percent, 3.33 percent and 8.72 percent respectively compared to previous years growth of 2.18 percent, -2.66 percent and 5.58 percent respectively.

Rice, sugarcane considered amongst the notable Kharif crops outstripped their production targets in 2017-18 by posting growth of 7.45 percent and 8.65 percent respectively.

Cotton crop production posted a growth of 11.85 percent in 2017-18, outstripping last year’s production levels.

But the wheat and maize production posted a fall of 4.43 percent and 7.04 percent respectively, said the economic survey.

Also, other crops possessing a share of 10.80 percent in agriculture value addition and 2.04 percent in GDP, posted a growth of 3.33 percent due to rise in production of fodder, vegetables and fruit, reported the economic survey.

Livestock which constitutes 58.92 percent share in agriculture and 11.11 percent in GDP posted a rise of 3.76 percent against 2.99 percent during the same period last year (SPLY).

Fishing sector constituting a 2.10 percent share in agriculture value addition and 0.40 percent in GDP rose 1.63 percent against a growth of 1.23 percent in SPLY.

The economic survey 2017-18 stated, “Forestry sector having a share of 2.09 percent in agriculture and 0.39 percent in GDP posted a growth of 7.17 percent against the negative growth of 2.37 percent recorded in same period last year due to higher timber production reported by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”