Sindh mustard cultivation has risen sharply, with the area under mustard growing from 51,870 hectares to 61,165 hectares, according to the provincial government.
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon welcomed the increase on Monday, and said sesame and canola cultivation had also grown. The figures came in a statement issued by the provincial government, as reported by Dawn.
The mustard increase works out at about 18 per cent, or 9,295 extra hectares. The statement did not give separate figures for sesame and canola, but it recorded growth in both crops alongside mustard.
Sindh mustard cultivation: why the province wants more
The push behind the numbers is edible oil. Pakistan imports a large share of the cooking oil it uses, and every extra hectare of mustard, sesame or canola grown at home cuts that dependence a little.
Memon said an increase in local edible oil production would help reduce dependence on imports, save foreign exchange and raise farmers’ incomes. That is the core argument for the programme: crops that serve both the farm economy and the national import bill.
The minister also pointed to room for further growth. He said there were vast opportunities to promote mustard cultivation in lower Sindh, and that using those opportunities could raise agricultural production further.
What support farmers are getting
The provincial government says it is backing farmers with a package of measures. Financial assistance is being provided through the Benazir Hari Card, and subsidies on DAP fertiliser are being provided under an additional relief package of Rs14.9 billion for farmers.
The priorities listed by the government include financial assistance for farmers, subsidies on fertilisers, promotion of modern agricultural machinery and effective use of irrigation resources. The aim is to cut farming costs while raising output, so that higher cultivation figures translate into better incomes rather than higher expenses.
The context matters here. Sindh’s farm sector has faced a difficult year for water. Feature Pakistan has reported on Sindh’s monsoon rainfall deficit, which put pressure on growers across the province. Against that background, an 18 per cent rise in mustard area suggests that support measures and crop choices are helping farmers plant more even when water is tight.
Food security is the wider frame. Feature Pakistan has also reported on Pakistan’s wheat reserves of up to six million tonnes, a reminder that staple stocks and oilseed output both feed into the same question: how much of the country’s food it can produce itself.
What happens next
The government says it will continue its measures to support farmers, strengthen the agricultural sector and raise local production. The next test will be the harvest figures, which will show whether the extra hectares produce a matching rise in oilseed output.
For now, the cultivation numbers are the signal. Mustard area is up by nearly a fifth, sesame and canola are growing too, and the province is betting that local oilseeds can cut imports, save foreign exchange and leave farmers better off.
Frequently asked questions
How much has mustard cultivation grown in Sindh?
The area under mustard has increased from 51,870 hectares to 61,165 hectares, a rise of about 18 per cent, according to a statement from the Sindh government.
Have sesame and canola also grown?
Yes. The statement recorded an increase in sesame and canola cultivation as well, though it did not give separate figures for those crops.
What support are Sindh farmers receiving?
Financial assistance is being provided through the Benazir Hari Card, and subsidies on DAP fertiliser are being provided under an additional relief package of Rs14.9 billion for farmers.
Why does Sindh want more local edible oil production?
The province says higher local production will reduce dependence on imports, save foreign exchange and increase farmers’ incomes.
