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Pakistan Spends $980M on Pulse Imports as Domestic Production Plummets

Pakistan is spending nearly $980 million annually to import pulses as domestic production continues to decline sharply. Experts attribute the crisis to a legacy export ban, the failure to develop resilient seed varieties, and the impacts of climate change on rain-dependent regions. Farmers are increasingly discouraged from growing pulses due to low profitability and significant weather-related risks. A proposal to promote pulse cultivation has been drafted but remains stalled, awaiting government approval.

Key Points: Pakistan's $980M Pulse Import Crisis Amid Falling Production

  • $980M annual import bill
  • 80% of pulses imported
  • Climate change hits yields
  • Seed corporation failure cited
  • PC-1 proposal awaits approval
2 min read

Pakistan spends $980 million on Pulse imports amid declining domestic production

Pakistan imports 80% of its pulses, spending $980M yearly as domestic output fails. Experts blame climate change, poor seeds, and low farmer profits.

"almost 80 percent of the pulses consumed nationwide are imported - Rana Muhammad Tayyib"

Faisalabad, February 23

Agricultural specialists have expressed serious concern over the persistent drop in Pakistan's pulse output, cautioning that the country is spending close to $980 million annually on imports to fulfil local requirements, as reported by The Express Tribune.

Rana Muhammad Tayyib, President of the Punjab Pulses Importers Association and Chairman of the Grain Market, stated that before 1998, Pakistan was among the top exporters of pulses. However, the export ban introduced during the Musharraf period discouraged growers, as pulses turned into a low-profit crop. He further noted that the country's yearly consumption demand is about 1.62 million tons, out of which nearly 1.07 million tons are brought in through imports. This, he said, reflects the weak performance of the Federal Seed Corporation, which has not succeeded in developing heat-tolerant and resilient pulse seed varieties, according to TET.

Consequently, almost 80 percent of the pulses consumed nationwide are imported. Tayyib also pointed to the effects of climate change on agricultural production. He explained that in rain-dependent regions such as Thal, timely rainfall can boost yields by up to 35 percent, whereas insufficient rain leads to significant losses and discourages farmers from planting pulses in subsequent seasons.

These issues were deliberated during a seminar organised at the Pulses Research Institute of the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) in observance of World Pulses Day. Experts observed that while Pakistan's annual requirement stands at roughly 1.5 million tons, domestic production meets only a small portion of this need, compelling the country to import nearly one million tons every year, the TET report stated.

Khalid Hussain, Chief Scientist of the Pulses Section at AARI, underscored the importance of pulses both for human nutrition and soil fertility. He further remarked that growers are reluctant to cultivate pulses due to limited financial returns and export curbs. A PC-1 proposal aimed at promoting pulse cultivation has been drafted and submitted to the relevant authorities, but it remains awaiting approval, the report added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
$980 million is a huge amount of forex to spend on pulses! As an Indian, I remember our own pulse crisis. It's sad to see how policy missteps (like that export ban) can destroy a country's self-sufficiency. Hope they revive their farming sector for the sake of their common people.
V
Vikram M
Climate change is a real threat to agriculture everywhere. Our farmers in Rajasthan and Maharashtra also struggle with erratic rains affecting pulses. The key is developing resilient seeds. If their Seed Corporation has failed, they should collaborate with international institutes. Wasting forex on imports when you can grow is poor economics.
R
Rohit P
From a purely economic perspective, this is a massive drain on their reserves. With such high consumption, they need a long-term "Pulse Mission" like India's. But given their political instability, will any PC-1 proposal ever get approved? Bureaucratic delays hurt farmers the most.
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Sarah B
Living in India, I see how crucial dal is to every meal. It's heartbreaking to think of farmers being discouraged due to low profits. Agriculture needs security. Hope the authorities there realize the nutritional and soil health benefits and act fast. Food security is national security.
K
Karthik V
A respectful criticism: While we discuss their issues, we must also look inward. Our pulse production still has gaps, and prices fluctuate. We should use our relative success in this area as a model for regional cooperation, maybe sharing heat-tolerant seed tech for the greater good of food security in South Asia.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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