Pakistan trails regional rivals in crop yields despite growing agricultural GDP share
Pakistan Economic Survey highlights disparities in South Asia’s farm productivity
Haris Zamir
Business Editor
Experience of almost 33 years where started the journey of financial journalism from Business Recorder in 1992. From 2006 onwards attached with Television Media worked at Sun Tv, Dawn Tv, Geo Tv and Dunya Tv. During the period also worked as a stringer for Bloomberg for seven years and Dow Jones for five years. Also wrote articles for several highly acclaimed periodicals like the Newsline, Pakistan Gulf Economist and Money Matters (The News publications)
Agricultural productivity across South Asia varies considerably due to differences in farming practices, irrigation, seed quality, and policy support, according to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2024-25.
A comparison of crop yields, specifically wheat, rice, cotton, and sugarcane, between Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh reveals both strengths and areas requiring urgent reform in Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
Wheat yields are highest in India, averaging 3,615 kilograms per hectare, followed by Bangladesh at 3,550 kg/ha. Pakistan trails with an average yield of 3,240 kg/ha.
India’s lead is attributed to widespread use of improved seed varieties, efficient irrigation, and robust extension services. Pakistan, while showing a respectable performance, could further boost output through greater mechanization and precision farming techniques.
Rice productivity is led by Bangladesh at 4,720 kg/ha, significantly higher than India’s 4,300 kg/ha and Pakistan’s 2,713 kg/ha.
Bangladesh’s gains stem from intensive farming systems, favorable weather conditions, and effective adoption of high-yielding seed varieties backed by strong public research-extension networks. In contrast, India and Pakistan continue to face hurdles such as inefficient water use and substantial post-harvest losses.
In cotton production, Bangladesh again leads with a yield of 734 kg/ha, ahead of Pakistan at 717 kg/ha and India at 436 kg/ha.
The superior performance in Bangladesh is likely a result of better pest management and crop care despite its smaller cultivation base. Meanwhile, both India and Pakistan — major global cotton suppliers — struggle with pest infestations, inconsistent input quality, and weak agronomic guidance.
India also dominates sugarcane yields at 84,000 kg/ha, far outpacing Pakistan (74,269 kg/ha) and Bangladesh (48,000 kg/ha).
The high yield in India is attributed to established support systems, early-maturing varieties, and superior farm infrastructure. The lower yields in Pakistan and Bangladesh point to a need for modernization in cultivation techniques and improved water and input management.
Despite the yield gaps, Pakistan's agriculture sector has increased its share in national GDP from 21.9% in 2019-20 to 24.03% in 2023-24, underscoring its resilience and continued importance in the economy. This rising contribution highlights agriculture’s role in sustaining economic growth, especially in rural regions.
India’s agricultural GDP share has declined over the past five years — from 18.7% in 2019-20 to 16.0% in 2023-24 — reflecting a shift toward the industrial and service sectors. Analysts caution that if agriculture’s relative growth lags too far behind, it may exacerbate rural-urban disparities unless productivity and rural incomes improve.
Bangladesh has also experienced a gradual decline in agriculture’s GDP share — from 12.0% in 2019-20 to 11.2% in 2023-24 — indicating successful structural transformation driven largely by the industrial, particularly textile, and service sectors. While agriculture remains essential for employment and food security, its shrinking GDP share demands careful policy attention to ensure rural livelihoods are not marginalized in the process of urban-led growth.
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