Islamabad, May 21, 2026: The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research on Thursday held a detailed meeting to review challenges facing Pakistan’s agricultural sector, including low wheat and rice productivity, the cotton crisis, agricultural research reforms, seed policy, and coordination gaps between the federation and provinces.
The meeting, chaired by Syed Masroor Ahsan, was informed by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain that agricultural revival remained a top priority of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
The minister said agriculture was the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and emphasized that sustainable reforms were being introduced to revive productivity, modernize research institutions, and strengthen support mechanisms for farmers.
The committee received a briefing on the country’s low per-acre production of wheat and rice and the measures taken over the past two years to improve wheat output.
Rana Tanveer Hussain acknowledged that Pakistan’s agricultural productivity remained significantly below regional competitors, particularly India and China. He informed lawmakers that Pakistan currently spends only 0.02 percent of GDP on agricultural research compared to India’s 0.4 percent.
He added that China was being used as a model for agricultural development and that Chinese experts had conducted a comprehensive review of Pakistan’s agricultural system.
The minister said the Prime Minister had approved broad agricultural reform recommendations, including restructuring agricultural research institutions such as the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).
“If money is not invested in agricultural research, desired results cannot be achieved,” Rana Tanveer Hussain told the committee.
He further stated that PARC was being transformed into a modern center of excellence focusing on research, technology, and modern seed development. Banks had also been directed to increase lending for the agricultural sector to support mechanization and farmer welfare, he added.
During the meeting, Senator Shahadat Awan questioned the ministry over farmers’ actual earnings and the gap between agricultural potential and current production levels.
“There is a clear difference between Pakistan’s agricultural production and its actual potential,” he observed, stressing the need for realistic comparisons between input costs and farmer income.
The minister informed the committee that floods, heatwaves, and changing weather patterns had negatively impacted wheat production this year. He said the wheat production target had initially been fixed at 30 million tons but was later revised downward due to climatic impacts.
Rana Tanveer Hussain further disclosed that farmers’ organizations had demanded a wheat support price of Rs3,200 per maund, while the government had fixed the rate at Rs3,500. According to him, current wheat production costs stand at around Rs2,600 per maund.
He also criticized provincial governments for failing to develop consensus on wheat procurement targets, revealing that the Sindh government had announced procurement of only 100,000 tons of wheat.
“The provinces are not cooperating in the agricultural sector and problems have increased after devolution,” the minister stated.
Chairman Committee Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan described agricultural extension services as the most critical component of agricultural development and voiced concern over delays in major agricultural infrastructure projects.
“Despite allocation of billions of rupees for agricultural laboratories in Khuzdar and Turbat, the work could not be completed,” he remarked.
The committee also discussed consultations with provinces regarding the national seed policy. Rana Tanveer Hussain admitted that broader consultations were still required and announced that the matter would be revisited after the federal budget.
“After passage of the budget, a policy will be brought through consensus,” he said.
Senator Abid Sher Ali expressed serious concern over the deteriorating condition of farmers and the cotton sector, warning that rising input costs and flawed import policies had devastated cotton growers.
“Pakistan has turned from a cotton exporting country into a cotton importer,” he said.
He informed the committee that the traditional cotton belt stretching from Faisalabad to Sadiqabad was rapidly shrinking and claimed that sugarcane cultivation was replacing cotton due to the influence of sugar mills.
“Imported cotton is enjoying zero tax while taxes are imposed on local cotton,” Senator Abid Sher Ali remarked.
Responding to concerns over fertilizer shortages, Rana Tanveer Hussain maintained that no fertilizer shortage existed in the country and that prices in Pakistan remained lower than global rates.
The minister also said Pakistan’s first comprehensive seed policy had been introduced and argued that GMO and hybrid seed technologies had the potential to double agricultural production.
He acknowledged that weak implementation of zoning plans and expansion of sugarcane cultivation had adversely affected cotton-producing areas.
“The major reason behind low cotton production is that farmers do not receive fair prices,” he stated.
The committee also reviewed proposals regarding the establishment of sugar mills in cotton-producing areas following recommendations from the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association.
The meeting was attended by Senators Shahadat Awan, Abid Sher Ali, Poonjo Bheel and Rahet Jamali, along with senior officials of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
