Importance Of Agriculture In Pakistan

Background:

Pakistan has rich and vast natural recourse base, covering various ecological and climatic zones; due to country has great important role in generating economic growth. Agriculture affects the economy in three ways namely, first, it provides food to consumers and fibers for domestic industry; second it is source foreign exchange earnings; and third, it provides a market for industrial goods.

LAND USE, FARMING SYSTEM & INSTITUTE

The total geographical area of Pakistan is 79.6 million hectares. About 27 percent of the area is currently under cultivation. Of this area, 80 percent is irrigated & Pakistan has one of the highest proportions of irrigated cropped area in the world. Most of Pakistan is classified as arid to semiarid because

The contribution of the agricultural sector to the GDp has declined gradually sinc Pakistan came into existence from over 50% in 1949-50 to about 24% in 1996-97. Agriculture still remains the major sector of the GDP composition. A major part of the conomy depends on farming through production, processing and distribution of major agricultural commodities.

In foreign trade agriculture again dominates, through exports of raw products such as rice cotton and semi-processed and processed products such as cotton yarn, carpets and leather production. Agriculture is essential for sustainable improvement in the internal and external balnce. Of the total exports earning, the share of primary commodities and processed and semi-processed products constituted almost 60% at the total exports. There have been some structural changes over time, but the contribution of agro-based products has more or less sustainaed its position.

Agriculture sector development overview

Significant progress has been made in development of the agricultural sector in Pakistan since the time of independence in 1947. At that time the Indus Basin was irrigated with an extensive system at canal irrigation sown with low-yeilding traditional seed varieties, fertilized mainly with animal manure and cultivated by means animal draught power and by hand.

Climate of

The

Indus River has built a wide flood plain in Sindh. The Indus has moved east and west within this flood plain. During the rainy months (July and August) the lower areas along the bank are flooded. In years of severe floods vast areas beyond the banks go under flood water.

The Indus Valley of Sindh is most urbanized, economically prosperous, heavily populated and culturally rich. This has remained the main attraction for many migrants entering Sindh. It is there that the largest varieties of rural house types are found. Indus is a large river, about 29,000 km long, with 950 km of its course in Sindh. The Indus River has built a wide flood plain in Sindh. The Indus has moved east and west within this flood plain. During the rainy months (July and August) the lower areas along the bank are flooded. In years of severe floods vast areas beyond the banks go under flood water.

The Indus Valley of Sindh is most urbanized, economically prosperous, heavily populated and culturally rich. This has remained the main attraction for many migrants entering Sindh. It is there that the largest varieties of rural house types are found.

The Eastern