The optimal time to sow wheat in Punjab is from 1 November to 20 November. Research conducted by the Punjab Agriculture Extension and Adaptive Research Departments shows that sowing after 20 November reduces yield by approximately 1% per day, equivalent to 15–20 kg per acre. In many areas, farmers sow wheat as late as early January, which can decrease yields by up to 50%.
For late sowing between 21 November and 15 December, farmers should use 60 kg of seed per acre. Late sowing requires a higher seed rate because lower temperatures slow germination, reduce tillering, and shorten spike length, all of which negatively impact yield. Increasing the seed rate compensates for these issues by improving the number of primary tillers and suppressing weed growth.
This year, wheat sowing in Punjab is delaying due to the late start of the sugarcane crushing season, which postpones sugarcane harvesting. As a result, key wheat-producing districts such as Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Jhang are experiencing late sowing, unlike last year. These districts collectively contribute over 4 million tons of wheat production, so delayed sowing could significantly impact total output.
Pakistan has already seen wheat production drop from 31 million metric tons (MMT) to less than 28 MMT. Any further decline in yield due to late sowing could increase the country’s dependence on wheat imports, putting additional pressure on the economy and food security.
