Since the start of the year, Pakistan’s wheat sowing season has remained under discussion due to concerns over low profitability in the previous crop cycle. Many farmers struggled to achieve breakeven returns last season, prompting consideration of alternative crops. However, due to limited viable alternatives at scale, most growers continued with wheat cultivation despite financial pressure.
📊 National Wheat Sowing Progress
Pakistan has now achieved more than 90% of its national wheat sowing target for the Rabi 2025–26 season, significantly improving the outlook for domestic food supply.
The Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) has set the following targets for the season:
- Production target: 29.678 million tons
- Cultivated area target: 9.648 million hectares
👉 Early indicators suggest that the country is broadly on track to meet these objectives.
🌾 Punjab Leads in Wheat Cultivation
Punjab, the largest wheat-producing province, has completed approximately 90% of its sowing target:
- Target area: 6.68 million hectares
- Current progress: ~90% achieved
Farmers have increased usage of:
- Urea fertilizer
- Certified seed varieties
This shift has been supported by:
- Expected wheat support price of Rs. 3,500 per maund
- Relatively stable input availability
👉 These factors have improved expectations of higher yields and a potentially strong crop season
However, official confirmation from the Crop Reporting Service (CRS) is still awaited, and final figures will become clearer after publication.
🌱 Sindh Nears Full Target Achievement
Sindh has also performed strongly this season:
- Target: 1.45 million hectares
- Achieved: 1.41 million hectares
👉 This reflects near-complete attainment of sowing targets, indicating stable farmer participation.
🌧️ Balochistan Faces Weather Constraints
In contrast, Balochistan remains behind schedule:
- Target: 0.64 million hectares
- Current shortfall: ~35% below target
The primary constraint has been:
- Low rainfall conditions
👉 Officials remain hopeful that January rains may help recover part of the remaining area
❄️ Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shows Stable Progress
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
- Most sowing has been completed
- Minor delays observed in snowfall-affected regions
👉 Overall, the province is expected to meet its sowing targets with minimal deviation
⚖️ Input Usage and Farmer Response
Despite financial stress from previous seasons, farmers have responded to current incentives:
- Increased fertilizer usage
- Greater adoption of certified seeds
- Continued reliance on wheat due to limited crop alternatives
👉 These factors may support improved yield potential this season
🔮 National Outlook
Short-Term:
- Sowing completion expected to cross 90%+ nationwide
- Weather will determine final gap closure in dry regions
Medium-Term:
- Yield performance will depend on:
- Fertilizer efficiency
- Weather during grain filling stage
- Input cost management
👉 Overall outlook remains stable to positive for food security
🔚 Conclusion
Pakistan is close to achieving its wheat sowing targets for Rabi 2025–26, with strong progress in Punjab and Sindh offsetting regional shortfalls in Balochistan. While farmer profitability remains a concern, continued reliance on wheat cultivation and improved input usage are supporting expectations of a stable and potentially strong production season, reinforcing the country’s food security outlook.
The Agri-Crop editorial team comprises commodity market analysts, rice trade specialists, and agriculture industry professionals based in Pakistan. We track daily price movements, export data, and policy developments across Pakistan’s key agricultural sectors.
