Agriculture is the process of cultivation of land or soil for production purposes. Agriculture plays a very vital role in the economy of Pakistan and its development. About 25% of Pakistan’s agriculture accounts for about 21% of GDP and employs about 43% of the labor force. About 70% of the population is dependent on agriculture directly or indirectly. Its contribution towards GDP is higher than the contribution of any other sector.
The main agricultural products are cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables, in addition to milk, beef, mutton, and eggs. Pakistan depends on one of the world’s largest irrigation systems to support production. There are 2 principal seasons. Cotton, rice, and sugarcane are produced during the kharif season, which lasts from May to November. Wheat is the major rabi crop, which extends from November to April.
Much of the Pakistan’s agriculture output is utilized by the country’s growing processed-food industry. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, the livestock sector contributes about half of the value added in the agriculture sector, amounting to nearly 11 per cent of Pakistan’s GDP, which is more than the crop sector.
