The digital agricultural census shows 17,000 farmers holding 100 acres or more

• The total cultivated area of Pakistan is 52.8 million acres.
• The average size of the exploitation falls from 6.4 acres in 2010 to 5.1 acres.
• 19.8 million households associated with agriculture in the country.

Islamabad: The first census of Pakistan’s digital agriculture revealed that about 17,000 farm owners of 100 acres and over 3.65 million acres of land amounting to 6% land in the country, The news reported on Thursday.

The total cultivated area of Pakistan is now 52.8 million acres, 20% of the holdings are land size between 7.5 acres up to 12.5 acres, holding 10.6 million acres. There are more than 251 million animals that spread in the provinces.

Over the past 14 years, the arable area has expanded by 10.2 million acres, while the share of non -irritated agricultural land has shrunk from 8.4 million acres in 2010 to 4.9 million acres in 2024

According to the 2024 agricultural census launched by Pakistani Statistics (PBS) here on Wednesday, the number of farms in the country increased from 8.26 million in 2010 to 11.7 million in 2024.

The average size of the exploitation, however, has decreased due to population growth, reducing from 6.4 acres in 2010 to 5.1 acres. The report also reveals that 19.8 million households in Pakistan are linked to agriculture.

The census found that the highest concentration of agricultural land lies in Punjab, where 5.05 million farms cover over 31 million acres. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 4.17 million farms represent 8.83 million acres, while Sindh’s 1.82 million farms cover 9.19 million acres. Balochistan’s 633,000 farms cover 8.83 million acres and Islamabad’s 17,000 farms represent a relatively small section.

The inventory presents a detailed distribution of ownership standards. There are 1.29 million farms less than one acre, 4.04 million farms up to 2.5 acres, 2.24 million farms up to 5 acres and over one million farms up to 7.5 acres. Larger holdings include 783,000 to 12.5 acres, 357,000 to 25 acres, 99,000 to 50 acres and 33,000 farms holding 100 acres or more.

Speaking at the opening of the census, Federal design minister Ahsan Iqbal said that these elements are vital to future financial planning. He stressed that Pakistan’s performance per mattress is significantly delayed behind world standards and that corporate agriculture is now essential to boost productivity.

Underlining the reduction of cotton production from 15 million balls to 5 million balls, the minister noted that this fall was emblematic of the wider ineffective in the sector. He said the agricultural sector, which contributes to 24% to GDP, must be reinforced to support Pakistan’s financial ambitions, including the target of the country’s transformation into a $ 1 trillion economy.

The report shows a significant decrease in agriculture powered by rain (Barani), despite the existence of channel systems, pipes and water pumps. The area depends solely on rainfall decreased from 8.4 million acres in 2010 to just 4.9 million acres in 2024, underlining the need to improve irrigation infrastructure.

The census also shed light on the scale of animals in Pakistan. There are 55.8 million cows, 47.7 million buffaloes, 44.5 million sheep and 95.8 million goats. In addition, the country hosts 1.5 million camels, 553,000 horses, 296,000 mules and 4.9 million donkeys.

Punjab leads to animal numbers with 26.9 million cows, 29.5 million buffaloes, 13.3 million sheep and 31.3 million goats. Sindh has over 11.2 million cows, 13.4 million buffaloes, 4.7 million sheep and 19 million goats. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hosts 13.5 million cows, 3.9 million buffaloes, 7.6 million sheep and 22.4 million goats, while Balochistan hosts 4.07 million cows, 664,000 buffalo, 18.8 million sheep.

Even Islamabad has a recorded population of animals, with over 1 million cows, 120,000 buffalo, 5,000 sheep and 127,000 goats.

Interestingly, the census data contradict some data published in economic research on the latest use, pointing out the divergences in official statistics and the urgent need for standard, accurate and technological data collection in the country.