Agriculture is the growing of crops and rearing of animals.

Acts as a primary industry concerned

with obtaining raw material from the ground for immediate consumption or for further
processing. Importance: Significance to the international trade Source of raw material Foreign
exchange resources employment opportunities Development of economy Ensures a nation of
food supply

Small-scale subsistence farms produce food and raw materials mainly for the people who work
on them. A small-scale subsistence farms depends on nature. The processes of subsistence
farming are completed with the manual labor of family members. The output depends upon
climatic conditions and varies from year to year.

A crop that is primarily for sale is called a cash crop. In Pakistan cash crop farming is gaining
popularity in many areas. Large farms in Sindh and Punjab planted with cotton, Rice, Wheat or
Sugar Cane are examples of cash crop farming. High crops yield involves new technology

Livestock farming means raising of animals for use in farming is called livestock farming. It one
of the oldest and most common occupation in Pakistan.

Small scale subsistence farm Land is ploughed with a traditional wooden plough with a pair
bullocks. Well irrigation (charsa/ Persian wheel) or rain water is used. Harvesting is done by
manual labor. C ow dung is used as manure. Cash crop farm Tractor may be used for ploughing.
Normally canal water is arranged. Reapers and threshing machines may be used for harvesting.
Chemical fertilizers may be used.

Rabi Crops o Rabi crops are sown in Oct-Nov and harvested in Apr-May o Examples: - Wheat,
Barley, Grams, Oilseeds and Pulses Kharif crops o Kharif crops are sown in Apr-Jun and
harvested in Oct-Nov o Examples include: - Rice, Sugarcane, Millets, Maize and C otton

Main crops of Pakistan: 1. Wheat 2. C otton 3. Rice 4. Sugar-cane 5. Maize 6. Oilseeds 7. Tobacco

Wheat is a staple food used in the making of Roti and variety of baked products. Widely
cultivated as a cash crop. Low grades of wheat and by products are used as feed for livestock. It
is a Rabi crop. Wheat HYVs (Maxipak, Shahkhan 95, Wadanak 95, Kohson 95)

Temperature: Mild temperature 10°C - 20°C for growing. Warm temperature 25°C - 30°C for
ripening. Minimum 90 days and maximum 120 days for better varieties. Rainfall: Moderate
rainfall A little rain before harvest swells the rain and ensures better yield. Soil: Stiff loamy soil
required. Land must be well drained. Flat ground to ease use of machinery.

Cultivation areas wheat: Punjab Sialkot-Rahim yar khan, Okara-leiah, Lahore- Jhelum and
khushab. Sindh Sanghar, Khairpur, Naushero feroze dis trict, Ghotki, Nawabshah, Hyderabad,
Mirpur khas. Balochistan Nasirabad and Jaffarabad Districts.

In Pakistan, Barani areas are those that are; primarily lack access to water for crop and
livestock. resulting in lower and uncertain crop yields and livestock productivity. Such areas
typically have high levels of poverty. Cultivation of Wheat in Barani farms: It is done as small-
scale subsistence farming. Cultivation regions are: --Upper Indus plain --Potwar plateau
Cultivation of wheat in these areas are planned according to seasonal rainfall and temperature.
Process: Sowing begins in dry season(Oct-Dec), when the temperature is 15C . Seeds get rainfall
from 13mm-32mm during growing. Gradually with drop in temperature the rainfall increases
and it’s the suitable period when the crop grows. Harvesting is done in (April-May) when the
temperature rises from 25C-31C which helps in ripening of wheat.

Production of wheat can be increased by: Introducing different variety of wheat Improving
Farming methods Improvement in water management system High yield chemical fertilizers
should be accessible Introducing Government Policies Research centers has been set up

Rice is a staple food crop. It is a major cash crop of Pakistan. It is a kharif crop. Rice cannot be
grown in purely barani areas. Rice HYVs (Basmati super, Irri 6 Rechna, Pajhal)

Temperature: Mean temperature of 20°C - 30°C with no cold season. Warm dry period for
harvesting. Rainfall: Heavy rainfall of minimum 1270 mm and maximum 2000 mm is ideal. Rice
crop requires plenty of rain during growing 4-6 months. Land & Soil: Level ground because its
easily irrigated. Loamy or clayey soil required.

Places North-Eastern Punjab Sialkot, Gujranwala and Sheikhupura districts. Sindh Larkana,
Shikarpur and Jacobabad districts. Balochistan Nasirabad and Jaffarabad districts.

Ploughing in April-June. Sowing the seeds in nurseries or into beds. When the plant is 9 inches
they are transplanted into prepared fields. Flooded to a depth of 30cm- 37cm. Fields are kept
full of water until the ripening of seeds. Before harvesting water is drained off. Threshing is
done by: --Drafting animals --Mechanical thresher

Production of Rice increased by: Improve the irrigation system. Use of High Yielding Varieties

Cotton The king of Fiber is widely used textile fiber in Pakistan. C otton is a kharif crop. C otton is
used for making clothes, furnishing fabrics, bed linen and industrial fabrics. • C otton HYVs
(Nayyab 78, B - 557, 149 - F, Sarmast Qalandri, C IM – 70)

Cultivation of cotton: Sowing of seeds in the month of April-May. Seeds are sown at a distance
of 30 cm to 40 cm. Irrigation is done twice: --One month later, the fields are irrigated --Second
irrigation takes place further after two months. Ripen of seed in dry months of September,
October and November. When the height of plant reaches to 135-150 cm picking is done.

Temperature: Ideal temperature 25°C - 35°C for cultivation. Day temp. 25°C - 35°C for harvesting.
Cotton is sensitive to frost. Rainfall: Ample rainfall of about 1000 mm is preferred. Rain at
picking spoils the ball from which lint is extracted. Soil: Medium loam is best. Needs natural
manure or chemical fertilizer to maintain the fertility of soil. Level land is required.

Human input: Agricultural machinery and female workers Pesticides and insecticides Fertilizers
Irrigation. Punjab Province Khanewal, Sahiwal, Vehari, Multan, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur,
Muzaffargarh, Ryokan Sindh Province Naushero Feroz, Nawabshah, Sanghar, Ghotki, Sukkur,
Khairpur, Dadu, Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Badin. Balochis tan Lasbela district new cotton produce
area Old varieties Pak Upland Desi High yielding varieties Nayyab 78 B-557 149-F
Sugar-cane is an important crop from which sugar, brown sugar and gur are made.” Important
cash crop of Pakistan It's a kharif crop Mainly grown for sugar and sugary production Sugar-cane
HYVs (JN - 88 - 1 to 3 Thatta – 10).

Cultivation of sugar cane: Sugar cane stalks, 30 cm high are planted in April and May. A distance
of 30 cm is kept between each stalk. The quality and height depend on the frequency of
irrigation and application of fertilizer. If the land is well irrigated then the plants rise up to the
height of 6 – 8 feet and the crop can be ratooned. With the help of ratooning it can be harvested
for 2 -3 successive years. Stop irrigation 25 to 30 days before the harvest of crop. After
harvesting, it sends up new shoots called RATOON which are left to grow. C utting of this crop
requires manual labor. It is transported to the sugar mills. Delay in transport led to the reduction
of the sugar content.

Temperature: Temperature of 25°C - 35°C is required. Tolerant to frost for a short time. Rainfall
Plenty of rainfall of about 1520 mm is required. Soil Loam and clay soils are most suitable
because they retain water. Application of manure and fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus
and potash is needed every year.

Kharif crop Food grain Raw material for edible oil production Use in manufacture of corn flour,
custard powder Used as food for animals and poultry.

Temperature: High temperature of about 35°C is required. Rainfall: Between 50-500 mm Soil
Can be grown porous soil. Pulses: Rich in proteins Popular local diet Fix nitrogen in the soil that’s
why help fertilize the crop that follows. C onsidered low value crops. Millets: Jowar and Bajra are
two millets produced. Fodder for animals, poultry. Also used as food crop. Millets are coarser,
cereals man ground into flour.

Temperature 30°C - 35°C is required Rainfall: Does not require much rain Drought Resistant Soil:
Can be grown on pourer sandy soils Areas of cultivation: Tharparkar Kohat (KPK) Attock
Rawalpindi Jhelum Sargodha Dera gazi khan Bahawalpur. Oilseeds includes: Sunflower Soya
Bean Mustard Sarson Rai Sesame Caster Seed. Edible seed Production of oilseeds is not
sufficient to meet the needs of growing population. 32% of demand for edible oil is met
through local production. Remaining 68% is being imported. Tobacco: Grown mainly in KPK
which mainly accounts for 65% of total production. Mardan and Peshawar are main Tobacco
growing regions. C ultivated in Sialkot, Gujranwala and Multan.

Growing of fruit crops, including nuts, primarily for use as human food is called fruit farming.
Bananas farming is done in South and East of Hyderabad. South east of Punjab is well known for
Mango farming. Oranges and other citrus fruits are grown in many parts of central and eastern
Punjab. Dates farming is important Sharak near Turbat in the Kech valley of Makran. Almonds,
Apricots, Apples and Grapes are farmed in Northern Balochistan where temperatures are lower.

Livestock farming means raising of animals for use in farming is called livestock farming.”
Livestock farming is considered in two aspects:

The people who lives by venturing and traveling from place to place along with their animals in
search of food and water are called Nomads. Nomadic people in Baluchistan and desert areas of
Punjab and Sindh practice subsistence livestock farming. Nomadic people normally rear sheep,
goats and camels. Transhumance is a system of livestock farming in which the animals are kept
on pastures high up in the mountains in summer and brought down to over pastures in winter.
Common in Northern mountains. Also practiced in Western mountains as well. Rearing animals
are goats, sheep and cattle. Meat, dairy products and wool are the main outputs. Settled:
Practiced in villages of Punjab and Sindh. C ows and hens are farmed in this way. Outputs from
the animals in wool, milk and meat. Practiced on large scale. Also practiced on large scale by
Govt. owned farms. Bulk of products are still supplied by private owners. Private owners do not
use all the scientific methods. A valuable by product is cattle dung.

Importance of livestock: Animals as Draught Power Help in ploughing, threshing and

harvesting the crops. Also help in transport of material from one place to another. Used for
turning the Persian wheel. Livestock as source of food: Milk provided by cows and buffaloes is
processed into butter and ghee. Goats and cattle provide meat and their dung is used both and
manure and as domestic fuel. Eggs and chicken are also products of livestock.

Main livestock resources are: Cattle Bullock & C ow Buffaloes Sheep and Goats Poultry

Most common farms animals. Supply meat and milk. Important part of farms. Cattle rearing is a
matter of pride and prestige for farmers.

Main source of milk and meat. Not important as work animals. Produce 70% of the total milk
supply. Always like to remain in water. Canal irrigated areas of Punjab and Sindh are best suited
to them. Types of Buffaloes: 1. Nili bar 2. Kundi 3. Ravi

Main source of wool and meat. Sheep and goats are sure-footed. Do not need large grazing
fields and can nibble thin grass. Nomads of Balochistan move around with their sheep and goats.
Sheep and goats cause soil erosion by overgrazing.

Chicken and eggs are main poultry products. Demand of poultry products is increased recently
due to increased population. Now, many commercial poultry farms have been built to meet the
growing demand. Problems of livestock: Few veterinary hospitals & vaccination facilities.
Grazing unirrigated fields causes soil erosion by wind when they dry out. Unhygienic conditions
in animal’s husbandry lead to unhealthy animals. Primitive breeding methods result in low
quality animals. Insufficient breeding for quality. Inadequate facilities for storage of meat. Lack
of grazing grounds for cattle and sheep lead to overgrazing. High prices of animals feed. Difficult
to keep in cities, near their market. Inefficient marketing system of milk and other products
leads to less profit and low investment in puts. Gap in price of livestock products in rural &
Urban areas.

Development strategies for livestock: Selective breeding and crossbreeding for better quality
animals. Programs to fatten cows for milk and meat. Improvement in livestock research farms.
Improvement in vaccination facilities. C ontrol of diseases and better animal husbandry
practices. C ultivation of fodder crops to turn agricultural land into grazing fields.

AIMS OF LANDS REFORMS: Breaking the hold of large landlord’s Equitable distribution of land
Protection of the rights of tenants C onsolidation of holdings Increasing Productivity Reducing
Unemployment Reduce income disparities
Topography: The flatter the land, larger and more efficient is the farm. The steeper the land,
lesser the output of crop. Valuable crops like wheat, cotton and sugar-cane are efficiently
cultivated on flat lands near Peshawar. Mountainous regions are difficult for farming plain lands.

Soils: Alluvial and loess fine soil deposited by wind are best suited for farming. River Indus and
its tributaries spread Alluvium on their banks making the soil rich and fertile. Rich in humus are
also best for farming. Lack of organic matter makes the soil unsuitable for cultivation.

Water including rainfall Adequate rainfall is good for farming. Potwar plateau receive adequate
rainfall so this area tends to produce crops without irrigation. The dried areas towards South
and East are only suited to arable farming with the help of irrigation.

Temperature: Cereals and fruits can ripen throughout the year in the sunnier South. In Northern
areas growing season is limited from April - September. Pests and diseases Preventive and
curative measures are needed to keep the crops safe. Pest and disease are more likely to attack
the crop if these measures are not taken. Small scale subsistence farmers mostly face the
problem of pests and disease because they can’t afford to buy pesticides and insecticides.

Farming can be done with irrigation even if rainfall is not sufficient. Irrigation is also used to
improve yields in humid regions. Improvement in irrigation system can increase the growth rate
of crops and cultivable land size will also increase. But canal irrigation causes water logging &
salinity. To prevent this: Waterlogging and salinity prevention programs should be introduced.
Tube well installation should be done. Remodeling and maintenance of old canals. For the
better yield, regular supply of water is required. Chemical fertilizers increased crop output. 75%
of total fertilizers used is nitrogenous fertilizers. Remaining 25% used is phosphate and potash.

Machines like tractors, combine harvesters, threshers and trans planters for rice has increased
agricultural output. Benefits: Farming is not mechanized but mechanization good results. Source
of non-farm employment minimize and post-harvest. Increase the farmers income.

Govt. efforts to improve agricultural production: Increase in production of fertilizers

Distribution of improved seeds Developing a plant protection program Providing financial
resources to the farming community Production and development loans.

Sustainable agriculture Development that satisfies the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations . Government should make sustainable and
productive techniques and system Waterlogging and salinity should be addressed promptly
Afforestation projects should be implemented. Organic farming for fertilizing the soil should be
practiced Providing irrigation to deserts Linking traditional farming methods with modern
techniques C oordination between farmer and research team.
 Small subsistence farm

Cash crop farm

Agriculture as System.

Commercial livestock Farming