importance of oilseeds in pakistan

Objective of Agriculture sector in Pakistan:

1. to ensure adequate production and availability of food for the population and
2. To provide livelihoods to people directly involved in the sector along with the value adding chain.

Pakistan’s agriculture sector involves 43.7 % of labor force that produces:

1. their own food needs and
2. ensures availability of food for the rest of nation and value-added activities

Pakistan has two crop seasons

1. "Kharif"  being the first sowing season starting from April-June and harvested  during  October-December

e.g. Rice, sugarcane, cotton, maize, moong, mash, bajra and jowar

    2.         "Rabi", the second sowing season, begins as on October-December and is harvested   in    April-           May

            e.g. Wheat,   gram,   lentil (masoor), tobacco, rapeseed, barley and                            mustard

Major oilseed crops grown in the country

Sunflower, sunflower, canola, rapeseed /mustard  and cotton

Position of edible oil-July-March (2012-13)

Local production               0.606 million tonnes

Total import                      1.719 million tonnes Import value     

Rs. 148.633 billion (US $ 1.45 billion)

Total availability from all sources          2.325 million tonnes

During the year 2012-13

1. total availability of edible oil        3.069 million tonnes
2. Local production of edible oil      0.567 million tonnes
3. Import                                               2.502 million tonnes
4. Import bill            Rs. 241.936 billion (US$ 2.50 billion)

Area and production

Crops	2012-13		2013-14 (P)		% Change in production over Last year
	Area (000 hectares)	Production (000 tonnes)	Area (000 hectares)	Production (000 tonnes)
Bajra	461	311	475	301	-3.2
Jowar	198	123	198	119	-3.3
Gram	992	751	975	475	-36.8
Barley	73	67	71	66	-1.5
Rapeseed & Mustard	224	205	198	181	-11.7
Tobacco	50	108	50	108	0.0

Crops	2012-13			2013-14 (P)
	Area	Production		Area	Production
	(000 Acres)	Seed (000 Tonnes)	Oil (000 Tonnes)	(000 Acres)	Seed (000 Tonnes)	Oil (000 Tonnes)
Cottonseed	7,114	3,324	400	6,700	3,592	431
Rapeseed/ Mustard	578	216	66	586	218	68
Sunflower	485	244	95	523	265	101
Canola	33	16	6	38	16	6
Total	8,210	3,800	567	7,847	4,091	606

Quality   Seed  

1. the   most   desirable   input   for improving yield.
2. an important component in agricultural productivity system.
3. Timely availability of seed ensures food security and prosperity of farmers.
4. Seed has the important position to bridge the gap existing in average crop yields and potential of available varieties.
5. Seed is a high technology product and is an innovation most readily adapted.
6. Improving access to good quality seed is a critical requirement for sustainable agricultural growth and food security. 
7. Effective  use  of  improved/certified

Quality seed

1. can result in higher agricultural production and increases the net incomes of farming families which has a positive impact on rural development.
2. availability of quality seed of improved varieties is essential to achieve the production targets.

During July-March, 2013-14

1. about 372.0 thousand tonnes of improved seeds of various Kharif/Rabi crops was procured.
2. The procurement of seeds for various Kharif crops (cotton, paddy, maize, moong bean, etc) is under progress.

Table Seed Availability*                            (Metric Tonnes)

Crop	Local	Imported	Total
Wheat	271,250.00	0.00	271,250.00
Cotton	17,175.25	0.00	17,175.25
Paddy	33,284.94	3,840.69	37,125.63
Maize	2,772.89	11,617.83	14,390.72
Pulses	689.81	0.00	689.81
Oilseeds	42.00	1,320.08	1,362.08
Fodders	10.00	20,921.01	20,931.01
Vegetables	65.00	4,743.72	4,808.72
Potatoes	63.50	4,217.15	4,280.65
Total	325,353.39	46,660.48	372,013.87