By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan launched its first digital agricultural census on Wednesday, a step Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal hailed as a “turning point” for the sector.
The census, the country’s seventh since independence, shows farm households rose to 11.7 million from 8.3 million and cultivated land grew to 52.8 million acres from 42.6 million since 2010. However, the average farm size has shrunk from 6.6 acres to 5.1 acres, a trend he attributed to changing land ownership patterns and population pressures.
Conducted entirely with digital tools, the census replaces outdated paper methods and reflects Pakistan’s push for data-driven governance. It spans all provinces, including remote regions, with trained staff ensuring greater accuracy and speed.
“Today’s launch is not the end, but the beginning of a practical revolution rooted in data.” Iqbal said at the launch of the digital agricultural census. “Under the Prime Minister’s URAAN Pakistan initiative, we seek to digitally empower every sector of the economy. This census is a testament to that commitment.”
The census details land use, irrigation, crops, livestock, mechanization, and farm demographics. Livestock totals 251.3 million, including 55.8 million cattle, 47.7 million buffaloes, 44.5 million sheep, 95 million goats, 1.5 million camels, and 4.8 million donkeys.
Wheat dominates cultivation, covering 41.5% of land in Punjab, 40% in Sindh, 50% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 48.3% in Balochistan. Cotton has declined to 3.7% in Punjab, 14% in Sindh, and 0.2% in Balochistan, while rice and maize also feature prominently. Farm sizes vary by region: Punjab’s average rose to 6.15 acres from 5.6, while Sindh’s fell to 5.03 acres from 8.8, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s to 2.12 acres from 3.6, and Balochistan’s to 16.07 acres from 22.7.
Iqbal said the data will drive targeted policies, tackling outdated statistics with initiatives like smart subsidies, farmer credit, climate resilience, and mechanisation. A real-time data portal for large farms will aid planning and coordination across provinces.
He tied the census to Pakistan’s aim of a trillion-dollar economy by 2035, emphasising food security and exports. Iqbal also praised the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, local governments, and partners like the FAO for their roles. The minister urged stakeholders to leverage the findings to boost farm productivity and global competitiveness, stressing innovation and farmer empowerment.
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