By Azeem Ahmed Khan

Pakistan's minor crop sector recorded a mixed but largely encouraging performance during 2025-26, with strong gains in the production of gram, potato and mung bean helping offset declines in some other crops.

The latest agricultural data presented in the Annual Plan 2026-27 available with Wealth Pakistan shows that several crops registered significant increases in both cultivated area and output, reflecting positive momentum in important segments of the agriculture sector.

Gram emerged as one of the best-performing crops during the year. The area under cultivation increased by 10.6% to 782,240 hectares from 707,000 hectares in 2024-25. Production grew even faster, rising by 52.4% to 262,030 tonnes compared to 171,950 tonnes in the previous year. The substantial increase in output indicates a much stronger harvest despite gram remaining one of the smaller crops in terms of overall production volume.

Potato maintained its position as the standout performer among minor crops. The cultivated area expanded by 23.4% to 466,560 hectares from 378,100 hectares a year earlier. Production climbed by 23.2% to 12,171,000 tonnes from 9,880,240 tonnes in 2024-25. The increase of nearly 2,290,760 tonnes in output underscores the crop's growing importance and its contribution to agricultural production.

Mung bean also delivered a strong performance during the year. The area under cultivation increased by 13.9% to 211,380 hectares from 185,610 hectares, while production rose by 15.2% to 151,090 tonnes from 131,200 tonnes. The simultaneous increase in acreage and production points to a steady growth in the crop's cultivation.

Chilies posted a modest but positive growth. The cultivated area increased by 3.3% to 33,210 hectares from 32,150 hectares, while production also rose by 3.3% to 89,360 tonnes compared with 86,470 tonnes in the previous year. Although the gains were relatively small, the crop remained on a positive growth trajectory.

Not all crops performed equally well during the year. Onion recorded a slight decline, with cultivated area falling by 1.5% to 163,750 hectares from 166,280 hectares.

Production decreased by 1.7% to 2,701,780 tonnes compared with 2,747,120 tonnes a year earlier.

Lentil production also weakened. The area under cultivation declined by 4.8% to 5,770 hectares from 6,060 hectares, while production fell by 10.2% to 3,870 tonnes compared with 4,310 tonnes in 2024-25. The decline in output outpaced the reduction in cultivated area, indicating a weaker overall performance for the crop.

Similarly, mash cultivation contracted during the year. The cultivated area decreased by 13.6% to 6,530 hectares from 7,560 hectares, while production slipped by 3.6% to 5,630 tonnes compared with 5,840 tonnes in the previous year.

Tomato was another crop that faced challenges. The area under cultivation declined by 12.1% to 41,990 hectares from 47,790 hectares, while production dropped by 11.9% to 555,720 tonnes from 630,680 tonnes in 2024-25.

Despite declines in onion, lentil, mash, and tomato, the strong gains recorded in gram, potato, and mung bean provided a positive overall picture for the minor crop segment. The sharp rise in gram production and the substantial increase in potato output were among the most notable developments of the year, highlighting the resilience of several important crops and their contribution to agricultural growth.

Credit: INP-WealthPk