ISLAMABAD: The agriculture sector, which accounts for 21 per cent of GDP and 44pc of employment, posted a decline during the first year of the PML-N government, as it grew by 2.1pc in 2013-14 against 2.9pc in the last financial year, according to the Economic Survey released on Monday.

The decline was mainly because of a drop in cotton production and other minor crops in the wake of unfavourable weather conditions but somehow compensated by better output of rice, sugarcane, wheat and maize crops.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar expressed concern over the situation and said the government would analyse the problems affecting the performance of the agriculture sector.

The survey shows that important crops recorded a growth of 3.74pc as compared to 1.19pc last year. Wheat, maize, rice, sugarcane and cotton grew by 4.44pc, 7.27pc, 22.79pc, 4.27pc and -2pc, respectively.

The decline in growth of minor crops was due to 36.8pc lower production of gram, 7.8pc less production of potatoes, 5.1pc decline in the production of masoor and 5.4pc decrease in other pulses.

Other crops which contributed 11.6pc value-addition to agriculture witnessed a decline of 3.5pc against the positive growth of 6.1pc in the same period last year because of decrease in production of pulses, vegetables and fruits.

The growth of cotton ginning declined by1.3pc against the negative growth of 2.9pc.

The livestock sector, which contributes 55.9pc to agriculture, showed a 2.9pc growth while the fishing sector grew 1pc having a share of 2pc in agriculture value-addition as against the last year’s growth of 0.7pc. Forestry sector posted a growth of 1.5pc this year as compared to last year’s growth of 1pc.

According to the survey, the agriculture sector requires policy formulation, economic coordination and planning in respect of food grain and food security. It urges that Kharif and Rabi crops’ targets and outlook need to be reviewed on the basis of coordination between federal and provincial authorities. The survey says the agriculture sector is facing certain challenges which require immediate and focused attention both at research and policy levels.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2014