Rice

Those crops which are grown in the beginning in summer and their picking or harvesting takes place in early winter are called “Kharif Crops”.These may include Rice etc..

Importance of Rice in Pakistan

Rice holds an important position among the cash crops of Pakistan.It fulfills the food requirements of our country but we also earn a lot of foreign exchange from its export.Besides it is an important raw material for manufacturing starch,paper ,sandals,hats,mattresses etc.grain as well as its husk is also used as fodder for cattle.

Favourable Coditions For Its growth

1. Temperature
Rice is a tropical plant.it requires high temperature during the growing season of 4 to 6 months.The temperature should be more than 80 degree F and in no way less than 70 degree F.

2. Water
Rice is known as a plant of water.Its cultivation requires large amount of moisture.

3. Soil
With the exemption of sandy soils which are very permeable ,rice can be grown successfully on soils ranging from silt loam to clays

4. Land
The flooding of rice fields requires level land and therefore river valleys

Rice Growing Areas in Pakistan

1. Punjab
In Punjab,the division of Lahore and Gujranwala rank at the top.Best equalities like Basmati,Parmal,Sukhdari,Irri-six etc. are grown in this part of Punjab.Besides somu rice is also cultivated in Shakhupura,Sargodha,Faisalabad,Multan and Bahawalpur divisions.

2. Sindh
In the province of Sindh,the districts of Sukkur division are most famouse for good quality rice cultivation .Larkana district ranks at cultivated in Khairpur,Nawabshah and Hyderabad districts.The main qualities of rice which are common in the province of Sindh are Kangni,Beghi,Irri-8 etc.

Average and Production

The following table shows areas,production and yield per hectare of rice during the last three years:

Period ………… Area ……….. Production ………Yield Per

Hectare………(000 Hec)……..(000 Ton)……………(kg)

1989-90………. 2107………….3220………………….1528

1990-91……… .2113………….3261………………….1543

1991-92………. 2007………….3198………………….1593

(Provisional)