Agriculture Shows Big Decline in Pakistan

Pakistan’s agriculture sector growth rate has come down to 1.1 percent in 2QFY25 from 6.1 percent in 2QFY24. According to Topline Securities, the poor performance of agriculture is on the back of a sharp decline of 31 percent in the cotton crop and a 15.4 percent decline in maize. Pakistan is home to 8.2 million farm families who are responsible for meeting the basic food and nutrition needs of an estimated population of 212 million people. Approximately 65 percent of Pakistan’s total population lives in rural areas and is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture is an important sector in Pakistan, employing over 37 percent of the labor force and contributing nearly 30 percent to gross domestic product (GDP).