SIR ADNAN QURESHI PAKISTAN STUDIES-GEOGRAPHY-CHAPTER 7___________________

CHAPTER 7: AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is a primary industry in Pakistan which provides raw material for processing industry. All
types of agriculture can be viewed as a system with inputs, processes and outputs.

There are three types of farming practiced in Pakistan:

A. SMALL SCALE SUBSISTENCE FARMING: means to produce food and raw materials mainly for the
people working on them. They make their own and their animal living on these farms. If the crop is
more than expectation, it is sold out to the local market. Mostly family members work as labour.
Cow dung is used as natural manure, organic fertilizers and seeds are used. They use conventional
methods for farming thus produce less yields. About 34% of the total farms in Pakistan are smaller
than 5 hectares.

B. CASH CROP FARMING: means growing crops in abundant quantity mainly for sale. They produce
high yields as modern methods of farming are used. Irrigated water is made available to these
crops. The labour is hired particularly in the sowing and harvesting seasons. Sindh and Punjab are
famous for such large farms where cotton, rice, wheat and sugarcane are grown. In some areas
tobacco, oil-seeds are also grown.
AGRICULTURAL SEASONS:

There are two main seasons/varieties of crops:

1. Rabi Crops: They are sown at the beginning of winter (October-November) and harvested in
early summer (April-May). Main crops include wheat, barley, grams, oil-seeds and pulses.

2. Kharif Crops: They are sown in summer (April-June) and are harvested in early winter (October-
November). The main crops include rice, cotton, sugarcane, millets and maize.

MAJOR CROPS OF PAKISTAN:

Following is the list of the main crops of Pakistan in terms of cultivated area and production.

CROPS AREAS (000 hectares) PRODUCTION (000 tonnes)

2011-12 2013-14 2011-12 2013-14
Wheat 8649 9199 23473 25979
Cotton 2834 2805 13595 bales 12769 bales
Rice 2571 2789 6160 6798
Sugarcane 1057 1172 58397 67460
Maize 1087 1168 4338 4944
Source: Economic Survey of Pakistan 2011-12 and 2013-14

1. WHEAT: is the major staple food crop of Pakistan which contributes 37.5% of agricultural crops. It
is a Rabi crop cultivated mainly in Punjab and parts of Sindh. Some districts of KPK also grow wheat.
It does not need much water as it is also grown on barani areas. More varieties have enabled the
farmers to grow wheat in Pakistan with improved farming methods.
Maxi Pak is the best variety grown. At present 90% of area under wheat cultivation is given to
High-yielding varieties (HYVs)
 Geographical Requirements:
Temperature: Mild temperature 10 degrees C – 20 degrees C at the time of growing and warm 25
degrees C to 30 degrees C for ripening. Need at least 90 days and for better varieties 120 days
growing period.

Rainfall: Moderate rainfall during October and December. A little rain before the harvest swells the
grains. It mostly depends on irrigation water except for barani lands of Potwar Plateau.

Soil: Moderately stiff loamy or clayey soil is ideal. Land must be well drained. Fault land and
undulating soil to facilitate the use of machinery.

2. RICE: it is the third major crop in terms of production which contributes 16.7% of total crops. The
second largest food crop after wheat which is mainly grown for export. It is a kharif crop which is
grown on large scale in eastern Punjab and parts of Sindh as it needs good amount of water. Its
seeds are initially sown in beds and when the plant is about 9 inches, it is then transplanted into
the field which is ploughed and wedded and flooded with water in 30-37 cm. Once the crop is fully
ripe, the threshers are used.
Irri Pak is a HYV of rice. Export of Basmati is always increasing for its fragrance.

Geographical Requirements:
Temperature: Average temperature of 20 degrees to 30 degrees with no cold season. A warm
season with 35 degrees C for harvesting.

Rainfall: Heavy rainfall of at least 1270 mm but 2000 mm is ideal. Water is mainly received from
irrigation. Sunny season is required at the time of harvesting.
 Soil: Mostly clayey or loamy soil is required. An impervious sub-soil is needed to retain more water.
Human inputs: Cheap and abundant labour and adequate machinery is required.

There are four main processes of rice cultivation:

preparation, planting, growth, harvesting.

3. COTTON: it is called the ‘King of fiber’ and is the most widely used textile fabric in Pakistan. The
largest cash crop and the second largest in production with 22.1%. Cotton and its products
contributes more than 50% of exports. It is a Kharif crop sown in April-May and harvested in
October- November.
Cotton seeds are sown at a distance of 35cm – 45 cm. After a month the fields are irrigated. The
plant height reaches up to 135cm – 150cm. After plucking the cotton bolls, they are transported to
ginning mills.
Nayyab 78, b-557, 149-F are High Yielding Varieties. Old varieties of Pak Upland and Desi are also
used. Since cotton is a sensitive crop it is attacked by a number of pests and virus.

Geographical Requirements:
Temperature: The ideal temperature for cultivation is 25 degrees to 35 degrees. The same
temperature is ideal for harvesting with wamer season.

Rainfall: Enough rainfall is needed about 1000 mm. With irrigated water 500 mm rain is also
sufficient for cultivation. Rain is not ideal at the picking bolls season.
 Land and Soil: Levelled land is needed. Loamy soil is best.

4. SUGARCANE: It is the fourth largest crop of Pakistan with 13.5% overall share in production. It is the
second largest cash crop also. Sugar, brown sugar and Gur are the main products made from
sugarcane. Bagasse and Molasses are the two by-products. It is a Kharif crop which needs plenty of
water in sowing season.
Sugarcane stalks are planted when they are 30 cm high. If the land is well irrigated and potash and
fertilizers are given, they reach to the height of 6 feet – 7.3 feet. The crop can be harvested for 2-3
successive years.

Geographical Requirements:
Temperature: It needs temperature of 25 degrees C to 35 degrees C.

Rainfall: It needs plenty of rainfall. 1520 mm is required. Irrigated water bridges up the gap.

Soil: Loamy and clayey soils are best as they retain water. It consumes a lot of nutrient from the soil.

5. MAIZE: It is a Kharif crop. It is a food grain and is used as a raw material for edible oil, custard
powder, and cornflour.

Geographical Requirements:
Temperature: It requires temperature upto 35 degrees C.

Rainfall: It can be grown with the rainfall of 50mm in irrigated areas-500mm

 Soil: It can be grown on porous soil.

6. PULSES: They are rich in proteins and popular in local diet. They are low value crops. Important
pulses are Mung, Mash, Grams and Masoor.

7. MILLETS: Jowar and Bajra are two millets produced. They are used as fodder for animals, poultry
and used as food crop. They can be grown with the temperature of 30 degrees C to 35 degrees C. It
can grow in less water and on sandy soil too.

8. OIL SEEDS: It include sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, mustard seed, sarson, rai, sesame, linseed
and castor seeds which are used to extract edible oil. Linseed and castor has industrial use too. 68 %
of edible oil of Pakistan’s need is imported for making ghee and cooking oil locally.

C. LIVESTOCK FARMING: ‘Shamilat’ are the places where cattle, goats and sheep are grazed. Farmers
also keep bullocks, buffaloes and cows also at their farm. There are three types of subsistence
livestock farming in Pakistan:

1. Nomadic: People in Balochistan and desert areas of Punjab and Sindh follow subsistence livestock
farming. They rear camels, sheep and goats for milk, leather, wool, meat and transportation. Camels
carry loads when they migrate. Animals get fodder and water in the new areas.

2. Transhumance: It is the system in which animals are kept on pasture high up in the mountains and
are brought lower the valleys for winter season. This system is followed in northern mountains and
western mountains. Sheep, goats are common animals found. In the highest peaks of Himalayas,
yaks and dzus are also reared. After meeting subsistence needs, meat and dairy products are sold in
the local market.

3. Subsistence Farming in Punjab and Sindh:

Cows and hens are usually bred to get milk, meat and eggs. Cows and bulls work on agricultural farm
also.

4. Commercial Livestock Farming:

It is practised either on a small scale farm by private owners or on a large scale by government or
military farms. Urban supply of milk and poultry is done mainly from the farms located within the
city or the outskirts of the city. A valuable by-product, cow dung is also collected and dried to make
cakes which is used as manure or to get bio-fuel.
Since the population density is higher in cities, therefore, the dairy farms use better scientific
methods better farming. Cross-breeding of animals is practised to increase fertility rates, veterinary
facilities are provided, and better nutritional diets are given to animals to get better and more
quantity of milk and meat.
IMPORTANCE OF LIVESTOCK FARMING:

 Animals provide Draught Power in the farming process by working in the fields.
 They provide milk, meat and eggs which is a part of food to humans.
 Their dung is used in making manure as well as in domestic use for getting bio-fuel.
 They provide raw material to many other industries. Hair, wool, skin, hides are used in making
leather products and carpets and rugs.
 Livestock contributes about 10% to the GDP as many animals and their products are exported to
Middle East, Afghanistan and Europe.

SUBSTITUTE LIVESTROCK SPECIES:

Both Government and private sectors have been investing in developing farms for substitute livestock
species which are not only very profitable but provide plenty of meat and eggs to the market.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION:

Pakistan is an agricultural country and it grows a variety of crops. Farmers know which crops and
animals are to be grown and reared. They know major factors which affect agricultural production.

Natural (Physical) Factors:

1. Topography: If the land is flat, it helps in keeping farm for agriculture better. The main crops like
wheat, rice, cotton and sugarcane are grown at flat lands. In the mountainous regions only
subsistence farming is practised at some places.
2. Soil: Alluvial and Loess are considered as the best soil suitable for farming. Sind and the Punjab are
famous fertile areas as they receive good fertile soil from the River Indus and its tributaries brought
from the northern mountains.
3. Rain and Water: If rainfall is abundant, farming is easy to be conducted. In case the area is not
receiving abundant rainfall, water is received from Perennial Canals from a dam or barrage.

4. Temperature: Since northern areas do not receive a long summer season therefore a number of
major crops cannot be grown. Cereals and fruits can grow easily.

5. Pests and Diseases: Small scale farmers usually cannot afford to buy insecticides and pesticides
therefore they face losses when the crop is attacked by pests. It is not likely to happen at the
commercial farms.

Human Factors:

1. Irrigation Facilities: If rainfall is not sufficient or reliable, farming can still be done with irrigation.
The extension of irrigation canals in far off areas have enabled Thal, Tharparkar and some areas of
Balochistan to grow Millets, Vegetables and Maize.

2. Fertilizers: Small scale farms use manure and organic fertilizers to give strength and nutrition to the
crops whereas commercial farms use Nitrogenous fertilizers (about 75%) and Phosphate and
Potash fertilizers (25%)

3. Mechanization: The introduction of machines like tractors, tillers harvesters, threshers, reapers and
transplanters has increased production. However, a number of labour force is also made
unemployed because of that.

High Yielding Varieties (HYVs):

The use of HYVs have increased the production of crops to 10%-20%. The main HYVs of the main
crops are:

Wheat: Maxipak, Shahkhan 95, Wadnak 95, Kohson 95.

Rice: Basmati super, Irri 6 Rechna, Pajhal.

Sugarcane: JN-88-1 to JN-88-3 and Thatta-10.

Cotton: Nayab 78, B-557, 149-F, Sarmast Qalanadari, CIM-70.

SUSTAINALBE DEVELOPMENT WITH AGRICULTURE

 Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. It contributes 25% in the GDP of the country.
About 44% of the employment is coming from agriculture. About 67.5% of the total population of
Pakistan lives in rural areas which is directly or indirectly associated with agriculture.

The sustainability in agriculture can be attained by the following ways:

 The government and private institutions must develop new, highly productive and environmentally
sustainable technologies and systems.
 The water logging and salinity problems must be solved to save water as well as to save the
cultivated land.
 Soil management from Afforestation projects to maintain the fertility of the soil and to avoid soil
erosion.
 There should be organic farming as compared to chemically used methods and fertilizers to save
natural nutrients of the soil.
 Reclamation of deserts with the help of irrigation techniques.
 The avoidance of poor farming techniques and better use of knowledge with co-ordination
between farmers and research services.

PAST PAPER PRACTICE:

Q: Study the picture of sugarcane production:

i. Describe the scene. [4]

 bullocks/cattle/buffalo/ox/cow
 traditional/manual labour/man/farmer
 wooden plough/ploughing
 young/small plants
 ratoons
 flat
 dry soil

 uncut crop in background -trees in background

ii. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using tractors instead of animals for work on a
farm? [6]

Advantages
 Faster/quicker/suitable for larger fields
 More efficient/modern/less hard work/do not tire
 Needs fewer workers
 Saves animal feed/land/cost of animals
Disadvantages
 Expensive to buy/few available to buy/imported
 Cost of fuel
 Cost of repair/difficult to repair
 Breakdowns
 Unemployment
 Needs skilled labour
 Compact the ground
 No milk/meat/food etc.
 No dung for fertiliser
 Maintenance/repair facilities may not be locally available
 Cannot use in mountains/fragmented farms

Q: Explain why yields from crops vary year to year? [4]

 Lack of rain
 Timing/ variability of rain -Flooding
 Wind
 Problems of irrigation/shortage of water/silt in canals/reservoirs/mechanical failure
 Build up of salt and waterlogging
 Pests and diseases
 Family problems/sickness/men go to city

Q: What works are done by the animals in subsistence farms? [3]

 Hoeing – to remove weeds, thin seedlings

 Harvesting – cutting the crop
 Milling/grinding/threshing – to remove husks, for flour, by animal walking round
 Transport – of seeds, fertiliser, crop, to field, to market,
 Drawing water – from wells, by shaduf, charsa, by walking round
 Threshing – separating the husk from the seed

Q: Explain why many farmers use HYV (High Yield Varieties) of seed? [4]

 Bigger harvest/heavy crop/double yield/fast growth

 Double cropping/multi-cropping
 Disease/pest resistance
 Drought resistance
 Stronger stems
 Growing population/increased demand
 Government encouragement/incentives

Q: Study the given figure, which shows the areas of cultivation for four main crops in Pakistan.

i. Which crop covers the greatest area? [1]

Wheat
ii. What is the area covered by this crop? [1]
8,450–8500 hectares
iii. Name two other food crops grown in Pakistan not shown on the graph. [2]
Millet / jawar / bajra / sorghum
Pulses / mung / mash / grams / masoor Oil seed
Named fruit e.g. banana / apple / apricot / date / mango / almond / grape Named vegetable e.g.
tomato / cabbage

i. Describe the methods of cultivation of wheat on barani (rain-fed) lands. [5]

 when the rain falls in winter / October-November
seed sown
harvested when ripe / after 3–6 months / January–March / 90–120 days ploughing/preparation of
soil
fertiliser
pest control / bird scaring / pesticides
weed control / weeding / hoeing
allow collection of rainfall in ponds / tanks
allow levelling of land / terracing / embankments to conserve water

ii. Explain the advantages and disadvantages to wheat farmers of modern irrigation methods such
as perennial canals and tubewells. [5]

Advantages

 Fills rainfall gap / water when needed / reduces dependence on rainfall

 Can be controlled / steady supply (not in heavy showers)
 All year round
 Provides more water / irrigates large lands
 Increases yield
 Double cropping possible
 Needed for HYVs
 Less labour required
 Tubewells can lower the water table / reduce water
 logging and salinity

Disadvantages

 Cost of installation / expensive

 Problems / cost of maintenance / requires fuel or electricity
 Shortages / canals may run dry / competition with other users
 Lack of technology for pumps/wells
 Lack of electricity / power cuts
 Causes waterlogging and salinity + explanation

Prepared and Compiled by:

Sir Adnan Qureshi

0333-2248681

[email protected]

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