Sindh’s Significant Contribution to Pakistan’s Rice Exports
Published on: December 4, 2023.
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Sindh’s Rice Sector Sees Strong Growth in Exports
Sindh, a province in Pakistan, has become a major contributor to the country’s export earnings, with its rice sector experiencing steady growth over the years. Despite facing challenges such as devastating floods, tough competition, and high freight charges, Sindh has managed to maintain its resilience and increase its exports.
According to WealthPK, approximately 30 percent of the total rice produced in Pakistan comes from Sindh. This southeastern province is the main producer of non-Basmati rice. In the fiscal year of 2023, Pakistan exported a total of 3.717 million tonnes of rice, earning $2.149 billion.
The export market for rice has seen a positive trend, with Basmati varieties of rice reaching 595,120 tonnes and earning $650,423 at an average per tonne (APT) rate of $1,092. Coarse or non-Basmati varieties, on the other hand, accounted for 3.122 million tonnes of exports, generating $1.498 billion at an APT rate of $480. Compared to the previous year, the country earned $2.5 billion through the export of 4.8 million tonnes of rice.
Despite facing challenges such as floods and torrential rains that damaged the paddy crops in Sindh, the overall crop losses were estimated at around 20 percent. However, Sindh managed to recover and contribute significantly to the rice sector.
Rice cultivation covers approximately 2.5 million hectares in Sindh, accounting for 10.9 percent of the total arable land and producing 5.1 million tonnes of milled rice. The rice industry plays a multifaceted role in Sindh’s economy. Firstly, it serves as the second staple food after wheat, contributing over 2.0 million tonnes to the national food requirement. Secondly, it provides employment and income opportunities for rural communities. Lastly, it contributes to the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Rice production in Pakistan varies across different climatic and environmental conditions. Basmati rice is predominant in the traditional rice-growing regions, while temperate Japonica rice is grown in high-altitude mountain valleys. In the southern regions of NWFP, Sindh, and Balochistan, IRRI type long grain heat-tolerant tropical rice is cultivated.
The rice-producing districts in Sindh include Badin, Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Qamber, Thatta, Dadu, and Tando Muhammad Khan. The rice sector has become a modernized industry and accounts for $2 billion in exports, with the volume steadily increasing. However, millers suggest that the sector should be officially recognized as an industry in Sindh.
Taimur Chohan, a rice miller based in Sindh, stated that rice consumption is gradually increasing, with rice now being seen as a condiment or fast food. Despite the challenges faced by the agricultural sector, including rice, Sindh has managed to produce enough rice to meet its population’s needs and support the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
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