Agriculture is pivotal in Pakistan as it contributes to 23% to the economy and provides employment to 37,5% of national labor force. The focus of the Ministry of Agriculture has been on addressing issues of food insecurity and it now has to address the challenge of its transition to more sustainable approach. In that respect, reliable and timely agricultural statistics are needed to guide the decisions. This story shows how Earth Observation data can leverage improved statistics in the province of Sindh.
Agriculture in Sindh
Far from Punjab—the region often hailed as Pakistan’s breadbasket—Sindh cultivates an impressive 3.8 million hectares of farmland. Wheat and rice anchor the province’s staple crop production, while cotton and sugarcane stand out as the leading cash crops. Agriculture in Sindh revolves around two main seasons: Kharif (April to October/November) and Rabi (October/November to April). More than 82% of the cultivated land depends on irrigation, shaping both farming practices and productivity.
During the Rabi season, irrigated wheat dominates the landscape, though smaller crops vary from one locality to another. Sugarcane and perennial fruits—such as date palms, mangoes, and bananas—thrive in the northern and western districts, while oilseeds like mustard and rapeseed are more common in the south and east.
At the institutional level, the Crop Reporting Service (CRS) of Sindh oversees field surveys and crop estimation. Its staff collect on-the-ground data and compile reports that guide agricultural planning and decision-making. But traditional, manual data-collection methods often slow the process and introduce inconsistencies. In response, the CRS has launched a broader modernization effort—one that increasingly includes digital tools and the integration of Earth Observation data.
Conclusion
The successful demonstration in Sindh shows how Earth Observation can significantly enhance the accuracy and reliability of agricultural statistics—provided that solid survey data is collected on the ground. By pairing innovative EO solutions with well-designed survey protocols and hands-on training, the initiative has helped lay the groundwork for accelerating the CRS’s digitalization efforts.
EO integration is already moving forward within the Sindh Crop Reporting Service, with Sen4Stat activities now expanding to cover the entire province and the Kharif season as well.
