By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has set a wheat production goal of 30 million tonnes for the 2025-26 Rabi season, leveraging sufficient water supplies in Punjab and Sindh, the country’s main agricultural provinces, following recent floods that boosted water availability for crops, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research said on Friday.
The target, approved by the Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA), exceeds the 2024-25 Rabi season’s goal of 27.92 million tonnes, which was surpassed with an output of 28.42 million tonnes. The FCA also finalised a wheat policy to ensure fair support prices for farmers, covering production costs and allowing reasonable profits, according to a ministry statement.
Recent floods prompted the FCA to recommend early wheat sowing, supported by quality certified seeds with a track-and-trace system, affordable fertiliser supplies, and proper herbicide use. The committee urged broader dissemination of production technology via print and electronic media, expanded access to agricultural credit, and the cultivation of barren wastelands through corporate farming.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, who chaired the FCA meeting, said the policy reflects the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare and self-sufficiency in staple foods. “Farmers are the backbone of the country’s progress, and their prosperity is a top priority,” Hussain said.
The FCA set production targets for other Rabi crops: 393,000 tonnes for gram, 8.916 million tonnes for potatoes, 2.788 million tonnes for onions, and 659,000 tonnes for tomatoes.
The Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department said certified wheat seed availability will meet 44% of the season’s needs. The Irsa Advisory Committee forecast no water shortages for Punjab and Sindh, allocating 33.814 million acre-feet for the season. However, the Meteorological Department predicted below-normal rainfall in November and December, with near-normal precipitation in January 2026.
To boost yields, the FCA advocated drought-tolerant and rust-resistant wheat varieties and the development of high-yielding, heat-tolerant strains to counter climate change. It also called for stronger provincial seed production systems and enhanced farmer training for seed purity.
The committee stressed preserving agricultural land for maximum cultivation and adopting technologies from Suparco and the Land Information and Management System for better production forecasting. Climate-smart agriculture was also prioritised.
Sugarcane production for 2025-26 is estimated at 84.7 million tonnes from 1.146 million hectares, up 5.5% in area and 5.9% in output from FCA targets. Rice production is projected at 9.417 million tonnes from 3.039 million hectares, reflecting a 21.9% area increase and 2.7% production rise. Mungbean output is estimated at 150,800 tonnes.
The State Bank of Pakistan set an agricultural credit target of Rs2.572 trillion for fiscal 2025, up 16.3% from last year’s Rs2.250 trillion. In FY25, lending institutions disbursed Rs2.577 trillion, exceeding the target by 0.2% and growing 16.3% from the prior year’s 2.215 trillion rupees. Forty-seven financial institutions, including commercial and Islamic banks, are providing loans.
Urea and DAP fertiliser supplies are expected to remain stable for the Rabi season, the ministry said.
Hussain reaffirmed the government’s focus on food security through federal-provincial coordination, stressing timely policy execution, improved irrigation, mechanisation, and increased research investment for sustainable growth.
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