The slow decay of Pakistani Agriculture

The last time the federal government released any meaningful, consolidated data about Pakistan’s agricultural sector was in 2010. Which is why there was great anticipation when the government announced it was conducting Pakistan’s seventh agricultural census. 

What does the census tell us? Over the past 15 years, Pakistani farmers have significantly expanded the amount of land they grow crops on. The rate at which they reuse land in different growing seasons has also increased. All in all there is a clear push from the agriculture sector to try and grow more. It makes sense. Pakistan’s population has grown by 5 crore people since 2010. But the increase in use of land for crops is fast becoming a race against the clock. Put the census data next to crop productivity numbers and it becomes clear that yields for most major crops have decreased.

The census also tells us that the government is terrible at counting. In the case of some crops, such as wheat, the government’s estimates of how much land is being used to cultivate it has been off by as much as 12 million acres. There is also a clear mismatch between the data being reported by the provinces (which is more accurate) and that being reported by the federal government. 

All in all it is a story of farmers desperately trying to keep up with demand and failing to find any kind of consistent support. This is the story of Pakistani agriculture since the last census, one crop at a time.