Author: Prof. Dr. Khalid Mushtaq

Wheat is an important staple food crop and has great significance in Pakistan’s economy in terms of food security. It accounts for 7.8 percent of the value added in agriculture and 1.8 percent of GDP. Nearly 10 percent of the total population is involved in the production, distribution, and processing activities of wheat. Wheat is a strategic crop and any shortfall in its production can lead to political uncertainty, drainage of foreign reserves, rise in flour prices, and shortages in vulnerable areas. Successive governments in Pakistan have designed and implemented different policy instruments over time aimed to protect low-income consumers,…

Pakistan is one of the countries most affected by climate change (floods, droughts, erratic rains, melting glaciers, heat waves, and weather-related extreme events) due to its low adaptive capacity and poor infrastructure. It is ranked the 8th most affected country in the world as per German watch’s Long-Term Climate Risk Index (2000-2019) report. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of these events as well as exacerbate the vulnerability of local populations. Estimates show that more than 21 million people could fall into poverty by 2050 if Pakistan does not take measures to adapt to climate change. At the same…

Potato is an important vegetable crop for growers and consumers as well in Pakistan. Overtime, per capita consumption of potatoes has risen to around 14.4 kg in Pakistan mainly due to dietary preferences for fast food. Rapid expansion in the processing industry with the entry of several firms have also contributed to increasing consumption of potato products. Furthermore, potato is the cheapest source of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Growing consumer demand and rising government attention to the development of horticultural crops has significantly contributed to the expansion of potato area and production in Pakistan. In recent years, its production…

Sahiwal and Okara are the two major potato producing districts in Punjab with more than 60 percent share in national production. Potato is high input intensive cash crop in this area. Potato sowing is usually done during the months of September and October and harvest starts usually from January to March. Potato prices are usually determined by supply and demand forces across the wholesale markets in Punjab. Seasonal output price volatility and high input prices reduces farmers profits and leave them on the mercy of market intermediaries who hold strong market power. Smallholders are vulnerable to these price shocks as…