Pakistan’s potato production surged past official projections in the 2024–25 season, reaching 9.9 million tons 44.7 percent higher than the Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) target of 6.8 million tons, according to official data.
The increase was driven largely by Punjab, where output rose 45.2 percent above target to 9.81 million tons. The province expanded its cultivation area by 14.8 percent to 373,000 hectares, while average yield improved to 26,308 kilograms per hectare from 25,341 kilograms a year earlier.
Nationwide, the area under potato cultivation rose 41 percent, from 268,100 hectares to 378,100 hectares. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded a 33.3 percent increase in cultivated area, producing 27,700 tons compared to 21,100 tons last year, up 31.3 percent. Balochistan also exceeded its target with 36,800 tons, 27.3 percent higher than planned.
Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa narrowly missed their individual production targets but reported modest yield gains due to favorable weather and improved crop management.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Pakistan ranked ninth among the world’s top ten potato-producing countries in 2023, following China, India, Ukraine, the United States, Russia, Germany, Bangladesh, and France.
For the 2025–26 season, the FCA has proposed a national production target of 8.92 million tons across 349,400 hectares, with Punjab expected to contribute 8.84 million tons, Balochistan 34,100 tons, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 35,000 tons, and Sindh 7,500 tons.
Potatoes have now emerged as Pakistan’s fourth-largest crop after wheat, rice, and sugarcane, with expanding exports and rising domestic consumption reinforcing the crop’s growing economic significance.
