The fertiliser consumption in terms of 100 grams per hectare of arable land in Pakistan has shown an increase of 41 percent from 1990-92 to 2003-05, World Bank report revealed. Fertiliser consumption in India, during the same period, has shown an increase of 34 percent from 1990-92 to 2003-05 while Bangladesh has increased its use by 46 percent during the same period.
China has shown relatively slow progress with witnessing only 28 percent increase. According to the report, irrigated land in Pakistan has increased to 84.2 percent in 2003-05 from 78.5 percent in 1990-92 indicating an increase of 5.7 percent. From 1990-92 to 2003-05, irrigated land in Bangladesh increased by 38 percent of the crop area; during the same period China irrigated land showed a downward trend showing 4 percent reduction; while India witnessed 4.4 percent increase in irrigated land.
Irrigated agriculture is the major user of both, surface and groundwater resources in Pakistan. About 77.4 percent of the total irrigated area of Pakistan fall in Punjab, 2.8 percent in NWFP and 19.8 percent in Sindh/Balochistan.
The report indicates that the total agricultural land in Pakistan has increased to 35.2 in 2003-05 from 33.7 percent in 1990-92, showing an increase of 1.5 percent. While India and Bangladesh have shown a decrease 0.3 percent and 6 percent respectively in agricultural land during the same period. China has witnessed 2 percent increase in total agricultural land as compared to 1990-92.
Agricultural employment in Pakistan has decreased from 48.9 percent in 1990-92 to 42.7 percent in 2003-05, showing a reduction of 6.2 percent, the report said. Same is the case with Bangladesh where the agricultural employment has reduced to 21 percent during the same period. The report does not provide any data regarding agricultural employment in India and China.
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