Economic survey 2025-26 shows growth in agriculture and livestock sectors

ISLAMABAD: Key details of the Economic Survey 2025-26 have been released, highlighting positive growth in Pakistan’s agriculture and livestock sectors.

According to the survey, the agriculture sector recorded a growth rate of 2.9% during the current fiscal year. Despite a 3.6% decrease in cultivated land area, overall agricultural production showed improvement.

The document stated that the production of major crops increased by 0.6%. Wheat cultivation area expanded by 4.4%, while wheat production rose by 4.3% to reach 29.6 million tons.

Rice production increased by 2.8% during the fiscal year, while sugarcane production grew by 6.2%, reaching a record 89.4 million tons.

However, maize production declined by 2.7%, although the cultivated area remained unchanged from last year. Cotton production also fell by 0.5%, while the cotton cultivation area decreased by 1.5%.

Among other crops, potato production increased by 27.6%, mango production by 11.6%, and banana production by 30.8%.

The survey showed that cotton ginning and other miscellaneous agricultural activities recorded a modest growth rate of 0.1%.

The livestock sector continued to perform strongly, recording growth of 3.8% during fiscal year 2025-26. The number of donkeys increased by 1.9% to 6.16 million, while the mule population rose by 1.8% to 221,000.

The horse population increased by 0.8% to 386,000. Buffalo numbers surpassed 49.1 million after a 3% annual increase, while the cattle population reached 61.96 million, showing growth of 3.8%.

Goat numbers also increased by 2.7%, crossing 91.8 million during the year.

Meanwhile, the fisheries sector recorded growth of 1.7%, contributing to the overall performance of the agriculture sector.