CROPPING PATTERN IN

PAKISTAN BY

MR. ALLAH DAD KHAN

CROP PATTERN• CROP PATTERN REFERS TO THE PROPORTION OF AREA UNDER DIFFERENT

CROPS AT A PARTICULAR PERIOD OF TIME. A CHANGE IN CROPPING PATTERN MEANS A CHANGE IN THE PROPORTION OF AREA UNDER DIFFERENT CROPS. IT CAN BE DESCRIBED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS BUT THE MOST CONVENIENT METHOD IS TO CLASSIFY THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION INTO TWO GROUPS I.E. FOOD GRAINS AND NON-FOOD GRAINS.

Data Source: Meteorology Department & WRRI, NARC/PARC, Islamabad, PakistanDeveloped By: WRRI, NARC/PARC, Islamabad Pakistan.

COMMON FACTORS AFFECTING CROPPING PATTERN • GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES CROPPING PATTERN OF ANY REGION DEPENDS UPON GEOGRAPHICAL

FEATURES AS SOIL, CLIMATE, RAINFALL, ETC.  APART FROM THIS, IT DEPENDS ON THE NATURE AND AVAILABILITY OF IRRIGATION FACILITIES.

• ECONOMIC MOTIVATIONS ECONOMIC MOTIVATIONS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT IN DETERMINING THE CROPPING PATTERN. THE PRICES INFLUENCE THE ACREAGE UNDER THE CROPS IN TWO WAYS. FIRSTLY, VARIATIONS IN THE INTERCROP PRICE DISPARITIES LED TO SHIFTS IN ACREAGE BETWEEN THE CROPS.  SECONDLY, MAINTENANCE OF A STABLE LEVEL OF PRICES FOR A CROP PROVIDES A BETTER INCENTIVE TO THE PRODUCER TO INCREASE THE OPT PUT THAN WHAT A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF PRICE DOES, IF THERE IS NO UNCERTAINTY OF THIS LEVEL BEING MAINTAINED OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.

• GOVERNMENT POLICIES FIXED PROCUREMENT PRICE OF WHEAT AND RICE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT CONTROLS HAVE INDUCED FARMERS TO SHIFT THE CULTIVATION TO CASH CROPS LIKE SUGARCANE. FARMERS ALSO WOULD CHOOSE THE COMBINATION OF CROPS WHICH WOULD GIVE THEM MAXIMUM INCOME