Rabi season: 29.31m tons of wheat likely to be produced

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is likely to produce 29. 31 million tons of wheat during the 2025–26 Rabi season, slightly below the target of 29. 678 million tons, from an area of 9. 385 million hectares. According to provincial governments’ estimates presented at the Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain here on Tuesday, wheat output is projected to decrease by 1. 24 percent against the set target. The FCA held on October 24, 2025, set a wheat production target of 29. 678 million tons for the Rabi season 2025-26, to be produced from 9. 648 million hectares. READ MORE: Though rains cast shadow on wheat crop, situation under control: officials However, the estimated production reflects a 3. 13 percent increase compared to last year, when the country produced 28. 42 million tons from 9. 1 million hectares. According to provincial estimates, of the total projected wheat output of 29. 31 million tons, Punjab is likely to produce 22. 040 million tons, Sindh 4. 402 million tons, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 1. 411 million tons, and Balochistan 1. 450 million tons. The meeting also reviewed the performance of other Rabi crops. The FCA was informed that onion production is estimated at 2. 70178 million tons from an area of 0. 16375 million hectares, reflecting a slight decline in both cultivated area and output compared to last year. Similarly, tomato production is estimated at 1, 555, 720 tons from an area of 41, 990 hectares, showing a decline of 11. 9 percent due to a reduction in cultivated area of 12. 1 percent. In contrast, potato production is estimated at 12. 171 million tons from an area of 0. 46656 million hectares, indicating a 23. 2 percent increase over last year. Gram production is estimated at 262, 030 tons from an area of 782, 240 hectares, showing a 52. 4 percent increase compared to the previous year. The FCA also deliberated on production targets for Kharif crops (2026–27). The meeting fixed a cotton production target of 9. 64 million bales from an area of 2. 16 million hectares, and a rice production target of 9. 17 million tons from 3. 39 million hectares of land. It also set the sugarcane production target for 2024–25 at 80. 3 million tons from an area of 1. 14 million hectares, along with targets for maize, mung, mash, and chilies. An official said the availability of agricultural inputs for Kharif crops (2026) was discussed in detail, and the committee was informed that water availability at canal heads will remain 67. 451 million acre-feet (MAF) during the Kharif season. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) informed that above-average precipitation during March till the first decadal of April has improved the situation to some extent over most parts of the country; however, due to drier conditions in previous months, soil moisture, especially in major agricultural plains, remains under stress, he said. However, isolated heavy showers, hailstorms, and windstorms may disrupt harvesting activities of Rabi crops, particularly in the upper and central parts of the country. Regarding seed and fertilizer availability, he said that the committee was informed that the supply of rice and maize seed is expected to remain sufficient. The National Fertilizer Development Center (NFDC) stated that urea availability will remain comfortable due to local production and existing stocks, he said. The minister chairing the meeting said that achieving food security requires a clear focus on improving domestic agricultural productivity, particularly by increasing per-acre yields. He said that the Interim National Wheat Policy 2025–26, approved by the Federal Cabinet on November 19, 2025, is being implemented across the country to support the farmer community and encourage private sector investment in the wheat sector value chain. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

Read full story on Business Recorder