Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, was brokered by the World Bank and is a key trans-boundary water agreement. It grants India rights over the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—while Pakistan has rights over the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers. These rivers account for a significant portion of the basin's water, which is crucial for Pakistan’s agriculture, especially for crops like cotton and paddy.

India's Rights and Restrictions

India can use the water from the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab for hydropower generation and irrigation but cannot build structures that affect the downstream flow, which is vital for Pakistan's agriculture.

Pakistan’s Agriculture

With a population of over 220 million, agriculture remains central to Pakistan’s economy, contributing around 23% to GDP and employing over 40% of the labor force.

• Textiles, Pakistan's largest manufacturing sector, relies heavily on agriculture.
• Rural population accounts for more than 61%, with a reliance on crop and livestock production.
• Major crops include wheat, rice, sugarcane, maize, and cotton.

Statistics and Economic Contributions

• 2019-20 crop production: 27.4 million tonnes of wheat, 9 million tonnes of maize, 8.5 million tonnes of rice, 81 million tonnes of sugarcane, and 7.04 million bales of cotton.
• Livestock contributes 60% to agricultural GDP but receives less than 1% of public investments.
• Canals and tubewells irrigate around 44% of the area; Punjab and Sindh dominate the net-sown area.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite large public support, Pakistan’s agri-food sector underperforms compared to peers. The growth rate slowed to below 3% after 2000. Yield comparisons: Pakistan's wheat yields are lower than China's and India's, and cotton yields trail behind China and Bangladesh.

• Water productivity in agriculture is among the lowest globally, with 130 grams of crop output per cubic meter of water.
• Public investment in agricultural research has declined significantly.
• Land distribution is unequal; 2% of farmers own 45% of the cultivated land, while subsidies favor larger farms.

Agriculture and Soil

Poor water management leads to salinity issues. Rising water tables bring salts to the surface, affecting crop production adversely.

Agro-climatic Conditions

Pakistan has arid to semi-arid conditions with limited rainfall, heavily relying on the monsoon (July-September) and Western Depression (December-March) for precipitation. The country follows six major cropping zones, primarily wheat-based rotations with other crops like cotton, maize, and sugarcane.

Agriculture in a Nutshell

• Contribution to GDP: 23%
• Employment: Around 40% of the population
• Women's Employment: Two-thirds in the agri-food sector
• Rural Dependency: More than 61% on crop and livestock production
• Major Crops: Wheat, rice, sugarcane, maize, cotton, and horticulture