ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has set an ambitious wheat production target of 29.678 million tons for the upcoming Rabi season 2025–26, the Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) announced after reviewing the performance of Kharif crops and the overall outlook for the next cropping cycle.
Chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, the committee’s meeting brought together provincial ministers, secretaries, and senior officials from key agricultural institutions to assess yields, input supply, and climate forecasts.
The meeting was informed that sugarcane and rice performed strongly during the Kharif season, with sugarcane production estimated at 84.7 million tons from an area of 1.146 million hectares, reflecting increases of 5.5% in area and 5.9% in output. Rice production reached 9.417 million tons from 3.039 million hectares, while mungbean output rose to 150.8 thousand tons, up 22.9% in area and 1.2% in yield compared to last year.
For Rabi crops, the Ministry has also proposed production targets of 393 thousand tons for gram, 8.916 million tons for potato, 2.788 million tons for onion, and 659 thousand tons for tomato. The wheat policy finalized for this season aims to maintain price stability and ensure that farmers receive fair returns.
Seed, Water, and Fertilizer Availability
The Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSC&RD) assured the meeting that certified seed supply for Rabi 2025–26 would remain satisfactory. Meanwhile, the IRSA Advisory Committee reported no expected water shortages for Punjab and Sindh, allocating 33.814 million acre-feet (MAF) for the season.
Weather Outlook and Climate Update
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, most parts of the country are expected to experience below-normal rainfall in November and December, followed by near-normal precipitation in January 2026. The department dismissed rumors circulating on social media about an “extremely cold winter” as unfounded.
Agricultural Credit and Input Support
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) informed that a record Rs. 2,577 billion in agricultural credit was disbursed during FY2025 — achieving 100.2% of the annual target and showing 16.3% growth over the previous year. A total of 47 financial institutions, including commercial, Islamic, and microfinance banks, are currently providing agriculture loans across the country.
The availability of fertilizers, including Urea and DAP, is expected to remain stable throughout the Rabi season (November–December 2025).
Policy Focus
The FCA emphasized continued coordination between federal and provincial governments to ensure timely input supply, efficient irrigation management, and policy support for farmers. The Committee reiterated that strengthening seed quality, enhancing mechanization, and improving climate resilience remain critical for ensuring food security and sustainable agricultural growth.
