🌾 Introduction

Rice in Pakistan is more than just food—it’s an economic backbone, a major export commodity, and a vital source of rural income for millions of families. Rice in Pakistan is cultivated on over 2.5 million hectares, providing livelihoods and playing a key role in national GDP. By promoting sustainable agronomy practices and improving water efficiency, rice in Pakistan can see significant gains in yield. Integrated pest and disease control also help reduce crop losses, boosting both quality and export potential. To strengthen global competitiveness, rice in Pakistan must benefit from efficient value chains, research-backed seed varieties, and farmer education programs. With improved logistics, mandi access, and international certifications, rice in Pakistan can thrive in both local and global markets.

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🌱 Agronomy of Rice in Pakistan

1. Rice Zones by Region

Zone	Province	Major Districts
Basmati Belt	Punjab	Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Hafizabad, Narowal
IRRI Belt	Sindh	Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad
Hybrid Zone	South Punjab, Sindh	Multan, Dadu, Badin
Hill Rice	KPK, GB, AJK	Swat, Mansehra, Muzaffarabad

2. Soil & Climate Needs

• Soil: Clay loam, fertile alluvial
• pH: 5.5–7.0
• Temperature: Ideal range 25–35°C
• Rainfall: 1000–1500 mm or irrigated lands
• Water: Standing water needed during early growth

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📅 Crop Calendar

Region	Sowing	Transplanting	Harvesting
Punjab	May–June	June–July	Oct–Nov
Sindh	April–May	May–June	Sept–Oct
KPK / AJK	May–June	Late June	Oct

Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) is being adopted in Punjab for water efficiency and labor savings. Learn more about DSR.

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🌾 Popular Rice Varieties

Type	Varieties	Characteristics
Basmati	Super Basmati, Basmati-515	Aromatic, slender, export-quality
IRRI	IRRI-6, IRRI-9	High-yield, coarse grain
Hybrid	Arize, Guard Hybrid, Y26	Short duration, Sindh-suitable
Upland	Swat-1, JP-5	Ideal for KPK & GB hills

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🦠 Major Diseases in Rice Crops

Disease	Pathogen	Symptoms
Bacterial Blight	Xanthomonas oryzae	Yellowing, wilting of leaves
Blast Disease	Magnaporthe oryzae	Diamond-shaped spots
Sheath Blight	Rhizoctonia solani	Rotting sheath with fungus
Brown Spot	Helminthosporium oryzae	Brown circular lesions

✅ Integrated Disease Management

• Use resistant varieties like Basmati-515
• Apply Tricyclazole or Carbendazim as seed treatment
• Ensure proper drainage and field sanitation
• Rotate crops and destroy stubbles post-harvest

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🌿 Fertilizer & Irrigation

Fertilizer	Recommended Rate per Acre
Urea (N)	100–120 kg
DAP (P)	45–50 kg
SOP/MOP (K)	25–30 kg

💧 Irrigation Guidelines

• Keep 2–3 inches standing water during tillering/panicle stages
• Reduce irrigation at maturity to avoid lodging
• Promote Alternate Wetting & Drying (AWD) in Punjab

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🐛 Major Pests and Control

Pest	Symptoms	Control Measures
Stem Borer	Dead heart, whitehead	Carbofuran, pheromone traps
Rice Leaf Folder	Leaf folds and webs	Cypermethrin, neem sprays
Brown Planthopper	Hopper burn	Imidacloprid, field sanitation

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🧺 Harvesting & Post-Harvest Practices

• Harvest Window: 90–120 days post-transplanting
• Yield Range:
  • Basmati: 30–40 maunds/acre
  • IRRI/Hybrids: 50–70 maunds/acre

⚠️ Losses & Prevention

• 10–15% loss from poor threshing/drying
• Moisture content should be <12% before storage
• Use jute or polypropylene bags; fumigate regularly

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🏭 Rice Value Chain in Pakistan

🥣 End Uses

• Domestic (chawal, pulao, biryani)
• Exports to Gulf, Iran, EU
• Rice milling (polished rice, bran oil)
• Broken rice for poultry feed

🧑‍🌾 Stakeholders

Stakeholder	Role
Farmers	Small-medium producers
Seed Firms	Guard Agri, Punjab Seed Corp
Millers	AMIR, Matco, Mehran
Exporters	REAP Members
Research Bodies	NARC, RRI Kala Shah Kaku
Govt. Departments	MINCOM, TDAP, Provincial Agri Dept.

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🏛️ Government Initiatives

• REAP support for exporters
• Hybrid and short-duration variety promotion
• Research by RRI Kala Shah Kaku
• Export facilitation via TDAP & MINCOM

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❗ Sector Challenges

• Groundwater depletion in Punjab
• Low mechanization in transplanting/harvesting
• High post-harvest losses
• Market instability and price shocks
• Global competition (India, Thailand, Vietnam)

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✅ Future Opportunities

• Expand Direct Seeding and AWD practices
• Grow hybrid rice in Sindh for higher yields
• Upgrade rice mills for better quality exports
• Explore organic and specialty rice
• Improve traceability and certification systems

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🧠 Conclusion

Rice in Pakistan is more than just food—it’s an economic backbone, a major export commodity, and a vital source of rural income for millions of farming families. By promoting sustainable agronomy practices, improving water management, implementing better pest and disease control methods, and developing efficient post-harvest value chains, Pakistan can significantly boost rice productivity. Additionally, investment in research, farmer education, and modern seed varieties can help enhance both yield and quality, making Pakistani rice more competitive in international markets. Strengthening logistics, reducing wastage, and ensuring fair mandi pricing are equally essential for long-term growth.