NEWS WIRE
April 26, 2025
ISLAMABAD - The government has set an ambitious target to cultivate cotton over 2.2 million hectares of land during the current Kharif season (2025-26). This initiative aims to meet local demand while contributing to the development and progress of farming communities across the country.
The target for cotton production has been set at 10.18 million bales, with efforts focused on ensuring the availability of certified high-yielding seeds and providing adequate supplies of agricultural inputs in key sowing areas, according to an official from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
In a related development, the Federal Committee on Agriculture has also established production targets for other major crops, including rice, maize, and sugarcane, as well as pulses such as mung, mash, and chilies. For the current season, rice will be cultivated over 3 million hectares, with a production target of over 9.17 million tonnes. Maize cultivation will cover 1.5 million hectares, aiming for a yield of 9.7 million tonnes.
Sugarcane production is expected to reach 80.3 million tonnes from 1.1 million hectares of land, addressing domestic sugar needs. Additionally, targets for pulses such as mung, mash, and chilies have been set.For the Rabi season 2024-25, onion production is projected at 2.7 million tonnes from 0.17 million hectares, reflecting a 15.7 percent increase in output.
The area under onion cultivation has also grown by 17.3 percent compared to last year. Tomato production for the same period is estimated at 654 thousand tons from 53 thousand hectares, with an 8.8 percent rise in output. The area under tomato cultivation has increased by 4.8 percent. Potato production is expected to reach 9.3 million tonnes from 0.37 million hectares, marking an 11.7 percent increase over the previous year.
The government has prioritised agriculture as a key driver of sustainable economic growth and social prosperity. Special emphasis is being placed on research and development, as well as improving coordination to strengthen the sector and ensure continued progress.
(Source: https://www.nation.com.pk)