ISLAMABAD: The performance of the agriculture during the outgoing fiscal year remained up to the mark and achieved growth of 3.46 per cent, close to the target of 3.5pc, showed Pakistan Economic Survey 2016-17 on Thursday.

The government in the latest survey re­vis­ed the sector’s growth figure of last year to 0.27pc from a negative 0.19pc.

Unveiling the pre-budget document, Fin­ance Minister Ishaq Dar said the dividend to this growth was contributed by Kissan Package announced last year. The government tried its best to reduce the cost of inputs since agriculture contributes 20pc to the economy.

Crops grew 3.02pc against the negative growth of 4.97pc a year ago. The growth of sub-sector of important crops, other crops and cotton ginning rose 4.12pc, 0.21pc and 5.59pc, respectively, against -5.47pc, 0.59pc and -22.12pc last year.

Wheat production rose 0.5pc to 25.75 million tonnes in 2016-17 as compared to 25.63m tonnes in 2015-16.

Cotton production increased 7.6pc year-on-year to 10.671m bales. Rice output edged up 0.7pc to 6.85m tonnes.

Sugarcane production increased to 73.60m tonnes from 65.48m tonnes, showing an increase of 12.4pc. Maize production rose 16.3pc to 6.13 million tonnes.

The output of gram, the largest Rabi pulse crop and accounting for 76pc of total production of pulses in the country, rose 25.5pc.

The production of bajra (millet) rose 1.7pc, while that of barley, jowar (sorghum), rapeseed/mustard and tobacco dropped 9.8pc, 7.5pc, 3.2pc and 2.6pc, respectively.

The production of moong, onion and chillies rose due to increase in area cultivated. However, the production of pulses masoor, mash and potato decreased.

Other crops accounted for 11.03pc in value addition of agriculture grew by 0.21pc during 2016-17 against 0.59pc during the same period last year due to decline in the production of vegetables and oilseeds and posted a negative growth of 0.73pc and 5.93pc, respectively.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2017