Punjab wheat sowing gains pace amid favorable post-flood conditions

Wheat cultivation in Punjab has picked up strong momentum, with provincial agriculture authorities confident of meeting the 16.5 million-acre target for the 2025–26 crop season, backed by favorable weather and improved soil conditions following recent floods.

Officials said more than 3 million acres have already been sown, and the pace is accelerating in major wheat-producing districts. The optimal sowing window will remain open until the end of November, and farmers have been urged to complete planting before the deadline to ensure maximum yield.

Weather and agriculture experts attribute the strong start to ample soil moisture and enhanced fertility in the Barani (rain-fed) regions. “Conditions in the Barani areas are very conducive this year due to sufficient soil moisture following the September floods,” said Dr. Anjum Ali Buttar, consultant at the Punjab Agriculture Department and former director general of the department. “We expect over 95 percent of the target area to be cultivated by November 30.”

Muhammad Riaz, former director general of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, said that the floods deposited nutrient-rich alluvial material across large tracts of farmland, improving soil productivity. “The floods helped the soil retain moisture and enhanced its organic content,” he said. “However, some areas experienced sand deposition where floodwaters remained stagnant for longer periods.”

The Agriculture Department has listed several recommended wheat varieties for this season, including Akbar-2019, Dilkash-2020, Fakhar-e-Bhakkar, Aruj-2022, Nishan, Pakistan-2013, Faisalabad-2008, MH-2021, MA-2021, Subhani-2020, and Wafaq-2023.

Dr. Buttar noted that there is no shortage of inputs in the province, with around 100,000 bags of certified wheat seed available through the Punjab Seed Corporation and private companies. He said the provincial government, under its post-flood relief initiative, is providing farmers with interest-free loans for Rabi (winter) crops to support the ongoing sowing drive.

Agriculture officials expect Punjab to meet its wheat sowing target by the end of the month, setting up the province for a potentially strong Rabi harvest. Riaz added that similar post-flood soil recovery in 2022 had also led to a bumper wheat crop — a pattern experts hope will repeat this season.