By Azeem Ahmed Khan

Sindh brought more land into cultivation in 2024, with the cultivated area rising by 6% to 8.11 million acres, while the uncultivated area dropped sharply by 51%, according to the Sindh Agricultural Census 2024 available with Wealth Pakistan.

The latest census shows that the cultivated area increased from 7.64 million acres in 2010 to 8.11 million acres in 2024. At the same time, the uncultivated area declined from 2.23 million acres to 1.08 million acres, indicating a stronger use of available farm area.

The improvement is also reflected in the province’s land use intensity, which increased from 79% in 2010 to 92.1% in 2024. This suggests that a larger share of farm area is now being brought under productive agricultural use.

Sindh’s cropped area also expanded by 6%, rising from 12.35 million acres in 2010 to 13.10 million acres in 2024. The increase came despite a slight decline in the Kharif crops area, which fell by 1% from 6.53 million acres to 6.44 million acres.

The stronger growth came from the Rabi season. The Rabi crop area increased by 15%, from 5.64 million acres in 2010 to 6.50 million acres in 2024. This shift shows that the province’s crop activity gained more strength during the Rabi season over the census period.

Wheat remained a major gainer in the province’s crop profile. The wheat area rose by 14%, from 4.69 million acres in 2010 to 5.35 million acres in 2024. The rice area also increased by 15%, from 2.44 million acres to 2.82 million acres.

Maize recorded the highest percentage increase among the listed major crops. Its area rose by 80%, from 43,136 acres in 2010 to 77,475 acres in 2024, although its overall area remained much smaller compared with wheat and rice.

However, not all crops expanded. The cotton area declined by 28% from 2.53 million acres in 2010 to 1.83 million acres in 2024. The sugarcane area dropped by 18%, from 629,058 acres to 514,396 acres. The fodder area also declined by 36%, from 553,161 acres to 351,639 acres.

The orchard area decreased by 13%, from 188,321 acres in 2010 to 164,188 acres in 2024. Cropping intensity was almost unchanged, standing at 161.6% in 2024 compared with 162% in 2010.

The census presents a mixed but important picture of Sindh’s crop economy. More land is being cultivated, uncultivated land has fallen sharply and Rabi cropping has strengthened, while cotton, sugarcane, fodder and orchards have contracted. The data gives policymakers a fresh basis to assess crop planning, land productivity and seasonal agricultural priorities.

Credit: INP-WealthPk