FY 2025–26: Pakistan’s agriculture grows 2.9pc despite shrinking cultivable land

ISLAMABAD: Ahead of Budget 2026, Pakistan’s National Economic Survey for fiscal year 2025–26 has revealed mixed trends in the agriculture sector, which posted a growth rate of 2.9 percent despite a 3.6pc reduction in cultivable land, according to official documents.

The survey, which is set to be formally presented on June 4, shows that overall agricultural productivity improved, with a 0.6pc increase in the output of major crops during the year under review.

Major crops show mixed performance

Wheat remained one of the key contributors to agricultural growth, and the cultivated area increased by 4.4pc, while production rose by 4.3pc to 29.6 million tonnes.

Rice production also recorded a positive trend, increasing by 2.8pc during the fiscal year. Similarly, sugarcane output registered a significant rise of 6.2pc, reaching 89.4 million tonnes.

However, not all major crops performed positively. Maize production declined by 2.7pc, although its cultivated area remained unchanged. Cotton also witnessed a slight drop of 0.5pc, accompanied by a 1.5pc reduction in sowing area.

Strong gains in other crops

Other crops collectively recorded a growth rate of 2.4pc, with several commodities posting notable increases. Gram production surged by a record 50.4pc, making it one of the strongest-performing crops of the year.

Potato output increased by 27.6pc, while mango production rose by 11.6pc and banana production climbed by 30.8pc. Turmeric production grew by 25.1pc, and chili production increased by 9.2pc, reflecting broad-based gains in horticulture and minor crops.

Sub-sector performance remains weak

Despite overall improvements, cotton ginning and other miscellaneous agricultural sub-sectors showed minimal growth of just 0.1pc, indicating continued structural weaknesses in parts of the sector.

Livestock update

The survey also highlighted changes in the livestock sector, noting an increase in the country’s donkey population. According to the data, the number of donkeys rose by 113,000 during the fiscal year, bringing the total population to 6.16 million.

Outlook ahead of official release

The findings provide an early snapshot of Pakistan’s agricultural performance ahead of the official release of the Economic Survey 2025–26. While the sector showed resilience amid shrinking farmland, the uneven performance across key crops reflects ongoing challenges related to productivity, input costs, and climate variability.