Agriculture and Pakistan

Agriculture is considered as an engine of growth. To what extent this statement is true with reference to Pakistan? Write a comprehensive essay. Agriculture in Pakistan(achievements) * Pakistan ranks eighth worldwide in farm output, according to the List of countries by GDP sector * The most important crops are wheat, sugarcane, cotton, and rice, which together account for more than 75% of the value of total crop output. * Pakistan's largest food crop is wheat. In 2005, Pakistan produced 21,591,400 metric tons of wheat, more than all of Africa (20,304,585 metric tons) and nearly as much as all of South America (24,557,784 metric tons), according to the FAO.The country is expected to harvest 25 to 23 million tons of wheat in 2012. * Pakistan has also cut the use of dangerous pesticides dramatically * Pakistan is a net food exporter, except in occasional years when its harvest is adversely affected by droughts. Pakistan exports rice, cotton, fish, fruits (especially Oranges and Mangoes), and vegetables and imports vegetable oil, wheat, pulses and consumer foods. The country is Asia's largest camel market, second-largest apricot and ghee market and third-largest cotton, onion and milk market. * The economic importance of agriculture has declined since independence, when its share of GDP was around 53%. Following the poor harvest of 1993, the government introduced agriculture assistance policies, including increased support prices for many agricultural commodities and expanded availability of agricultural credit. From 1993 to 1997, real growth in the agricultural sector averaged 5.7% but has since declined to about 4%. Agricultural reforms, including increased wheat and oilseed production, play a central role in the government's economic reform package. * Much of the Pakistan's agriculture output is utilized by the country's growing processed-food industry. The value of