Agriculture

Agricultural systems and crops

definition
⚫ Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the
soil, growing crops. It includes the preparation of plant
and animal products for people to use and their
distribution to markets. These products, as well as the
agricultural methods used, may vary from one part of
the world to another.
Introduction
⚫ Pakistan is an agricultural country and is dominated
by subsistence farming with production of food crops
accounting for 65 to 70% of the total cropped area.
⚫ The three main types of farming are
⚫ Subsistence farming
⚫ Commercial farming
⚫ Livestock farming
Farm A (Small farm)
⚫ the action or fact of maintaining or supporting oneself,
especially at a minimal level.
⚫ "the minimum income needed for subsistence
⚫ The farmers have 3 hectares and rents another 3
hectares. He prepared the land himself, renting a
tractor and some agricultural implements. He has no
livestock except for two young goats which will be sold
when they mature.
Farm B(medium sized farm)
⚫ A medium size farm covering 12 hectares .
⚫ Mangoes and citrus food are grown cover 2 hectares.
⚫ Sugarcane is planted on 2 hectares.
⚫ Cotton and wheat on 2 hectares.
⚫ 2 cows that provide milk.
⚫ the farmers keep 2000 kg of wheat for himself and
sells the rest of the farm produce and cotton.
Farm C( large farm)
⚫ Large farm covering 100 hectares.
⚫ Wheat is on 50 hectares.
⚫ Cotton on 30 hectares.
⚫ Sugarcane is on 5 hectares.
⚫ Citrus orchards occupy 10 hectares.
⚫ Salinity effect 3 hectares.
⚫ Farm building for keeping farming implements and
machinery and offices to managing the farm occupy 2
hectares.
⚫ The owner lives in the city.
⚫ This study reveals how the agricultural system works.
⚫ On small scale farm the farmer and family are
employed.
⚫ Women also take an active part during the harvest
seasons.
⚫ Medium size and large farm are mechanized and
employ workers.
⚫ the crops are grown using irrigation and tube wells.
Crops
⚫ Changes in agriculture practice are taking place in
Pakistan.
⚫ There are two cropping seasons in Pakistan.
⚫ Rabi(winter)
⚫ Kharif(summer)
⚫ Wheat, gram, masoor, rape-seed, and mustered, are
important rabi crops.
⚫ Cotton, rice, maize, jawar, bajra, and tobacco, are some of
the important kharif crops.
⚫ Pakistan ranks eight in the world agricultural output
according to the list of countries by GDP sector
composition.
Cash crops of Pakistan
A cash crop or profit crop is an agricultural
crop which is grown to sell for profit.
Cotton
Wheat
Rice
Sugarcane
Fruits and vegetables
Wheat
⚫ Wheat is a staple food of the country.
⚫ It is a rabi crop that require mild temperature low
rainfall and alluvial, loamy soil.
⚫ Wheat is sown in October -November and harvested
in April-May.
Areas and production
⚫ In 1947-48 the area of wheat production were 4 million
hectares.
⚫ In 2000-2001 8.1 millions hectares.
⚫ Wheat production increased from 11.5 million tonnes
in 1980 to 19 million tonnes in 2000-01 and to 23.3
million tonnes in 2009-10
Wheat growing regions
⚫ In Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan, more then 90% of
the wheat area is irrigated.
⚫ In KPK 43% area is irrigated.
⚫ The main growing regions are in Punjab, from Sialkot
in the north, to Rahimyar khan in south, and from
okara in the east and Leiah in the west.
⚫ In Sindh the well irrigated alluvial plains in central
Sindh, covering sanghar, khairpur, and noshehro
feroze districts.
The secondary growing regions
⚫ The secondary growing regions are in northern and
south western Punjab other than Lahore, Jhellum, and
khushab; in Sindh wheat is grown in Ghotki, and
Nawabshah, to the north, and Hyderabad and Mirpur
in the center.
⚫ Nasirabad and Jaffarabad the only wheat-growing
regions in Balochistan, are secondary regions; they are
served by canal irrigation.
Self-sufficiency in Wheat
⚫ Although the wheat-growing areas have been steadily
increasing over the years, Pakistan is still not
self-sufficient in wheat production and has had to
import wheat when required.
Rice
⚫ Rice is a kharif crop that requires high temperatures
and plenty of rainfall.
⚫ Rice is also considered as an important element of
human diet.
⚫ It is sown in May-June and harvested in
September-October.
Rice growing regions
⚫ In Punjab the main rice growing regions are Sialkot,
Gujranwala and Sheikhupura districts and larkana,
Shikarpur, and jacobabad districts in Sindh.
Jaffarabad in Balochistan also falls in the main regions
category.
Secondary growing regions
⚫ Secondary growing regions are Narowal, Hafizabad,
Jhang, and Okara in Punjab, Dadu, Thatta, and Badin
districts in Sindh.
⚫ Nasirabad in Balochistan.
⚫ Balochistan and KPK together accounts 9% of acerage
and just over 10% of the rice production in Pakistan.
Area and production
⚫ The cereal crops in Pakistan rice ranks next to the
wheat .
⚫ In 1995-99 2333.8 thousand hectares and 4486.7
thousand tonnes.
⚫ In 2005-10 2710.7 thousand hectares and 6076.7
thousand tonnes.
Varieties of rice
⚫ Irri
⚫ Basmati
⚫ Desi
Sugar cane
⚫ Next to cotton sugar cane is Pakistan's most important
cash crop. It is used primarily for making white sugar
and gur.
⚫ The sowing period of sugar cane is March to April and
the harvest is from October to November.
⚫ Sugar cane cultivation depends on the type of soil and
water availability; it is heavily irrigated and does wells
in in canals colonies.
⚫ Sugar cane requires soil rich in essential nutrients, a
good balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and a heavy
dose of potash.
Sugar cane growing regions
⚫ sugar cane is grown extensively in Punjab and Sindh, a
limited area in KPK, the three main sugar cane regions are
Faisalabad, Sargodha and Kasur districts in Punjab,
Hyderabad, and Badin districts in Sindh, and Charsada
districts in KPK, which have excellent irrigation facilities
and rich alluvial soils.
⚫ The secondary regions are Okara, Mandi Bahauddin,
Bhakkar, and Bahawalnagar districts in Punjab.
⚫ In sindh the secondary regions are nawabshah, noshehro
feroze, and thatta districts.
⚫ In KPK the secondary regions are Mardan, and Peshawar.
Area of production
⚫ On the average Punjab accounts 65%
⚫ Sindh 24%
⚫ KPK 10%
⚫ And Balochistan less then 1% of the total sugarcane
growing area.
Cotton
⚫ Cotton is a main cash crop in Pakistan, and cotton is a
kharif crop that needs high temperatures and
moderate rainfall; it grows best in alluvial soil.
⚫ Cotton is sown from may in the south to June -July in
the north and harvested from September to December
accordingly.
Cotton growing regions in
Pakistan
⚫ The main cotton-growing regions are in southern
Punjab and central Sindh. Although the rainfall in
these region is less than the required 250mm.
⚫ Hot summer weather (32 C) in June helps cotton
growth.
⚫ The nutrients lacking in the rich alluvium are supplied
by fertilizers.
⚫ The highland regions are unsuitable because the
humidity attracts pests and plant diseases.
Area and Production
⚫ In 2011, Pakistan ranked fourth in the world in term of
acreage as well as production of cotton.
⚫ the cotton acreage went up from 11,000 sq km in
1947-50 to 30,000 sq km in 2000.
⚫ Pakistan now has the fourth largest cotton acreage in
the world after India, USA China, and it is also fourth
in cotton production next to China, India, and the
USA.
Maize(corn)
⚫ The primary use as fodder and is also a staple food for
low income groups.
⚫ The main regions are KPK and Punjab.
⚫ The secondary regions are Sindh and Balochistan.
⚫ Maize a barani crop is grown in the kharif period.
⚫ it is sown in June-July and harvested in
October-November.
Millet and other minor cereals
⚫ Millet(bajra)
⚫ jawar(sorghum)
⚫ Barley(jau) are grown in Pakistan.
⚫ Their total production is 9.6%
⚫ Are consumed by poor families and animal fodder.
⚫ It can be grown in poorer soil
⚫ Require less water than wheat
⚫ Eastern and western districts in Sindh
⚫ Tharparkar (Sindh) leads in bajra production
⚫ Attock, rawalpindi, chakwal, and khushab districts of
Punjab make up the jawar belt.
⚫ Barley in Balochistan and KPK.
pulses
⚫ Pulses are an important source of protien
⚫ Pakistan is still dificient in them
⚫ Gram, mong, and masoor, and peas are grown in
pakistan
⚫ The main regions are eastern and northern districts of
Punjab
⚫ Masoor in punjab
⚫ Peas in Sindh
tobacco
⚫ Tobacco is one of Pakistan's cash crop.
⚫ KPK 63.5% of total tobacco acreage and 79% of its
production.
⚫ Punjab 35% area 25% of the production
⚫ The remaining 1.5 % in Balochistan
⚫ Mardan, Peshawar in KPK are the main region
⚫ The total area in 2011-13 was 45.5 thousand acres
⚫ total average production was 97.5 thousand tones.
Vegetables
⚫ Vegetables are an important food item,
⚫ Climate and soil conditions are not favorable across
the country
⚫ The demand for vegetables increased with the growth
of urban population
⚫ Potatoes are the most important vegetable in Pakistan
⚫ Punjab is main potato-growing region
⚫ Tomatoes are another vegetable in demand
throughout the year
⚫ Sindh 76.5% in chilies production
Fruits
⚫ Pakistan produces high quality fruit but this is a small segment
of the country economy.
⚫ Because of climate differences, various fruits are grown in
different areas.
⚫ Citrus fruit in Punjab
⚫ Canal colonies are most suitable for mangoes
⚫ Mango production in Punjab was 79%
⚫ 20% produced in Sindh.
⚫ Dates produce in Sindh and Balochistan
⚫ Balochistan produce cherry, apple, and apricot, 68.5%(apple)
94% (apricot) of the total production.
⚫ KPK produce 30.6% (apple)
⚫ Citrus and mango is also exported