PROJECTS:

Located in South Asia, Pakistan shares an eastern border with India and a north-eastern border with China. Iran makes up the country’s south-west border, and Afghanistan runs along its western and northern edge. The Arabian Sea is Pakistan’s southern boundary with 1,064 km of coastline. Population of the country totals 165 milliaon.

Agriculture is the mainsty of Pakistan’s economy. A total of 22.94 million of the nation’s 153.96 million acres are under tillage.  Their primary crops include wheat, rice, cotton and sugarcane. Twenty-two percent of total output (GDP) and 44.8 percent of total employment are generated in agriculture. Nearly 66 percent of the country’s population living in rural areas is directly or indirectly linked with agriculture for their livelihood. Despite intensive farming practices, Pakistan still remains a net food importer.

Following 1993’s poor harvest, 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 less than 3% in 2005. Agricultural reforms, including increased wheat and oilseed production, play a central role in the government's economic reform package. Heavy rains in 2005 provided the benefit of larger than average cotton, wheat, and rice crops, but also caused damage due to flooding and avalanches.