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Agriculture and industry of Pakistan: Class 10 Pakistan Studies
The importance of agriculture, the two crop seasons, the main crops, canal irrigation, the problems of farming and the main industries of Pakistan.
Key points
Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of Pakistan. It provides food, raw materials for industry such as cotton, jobs for a large part of the people and a good part of the exports. Most farming depends on the Indus river system and its canals.
There are two crop seasons:
- The rabi crops are sown in the cool season, from about October to December, and harvested in spring. The main rabi crops are wheat, gram, barley and mustard.
- The kharif crops are sown in the hot season, from about April to June, and harvested in autumn. The main kharif crops are rice, cotton, sugarcane and maize.
Wheat is the main food crop, and rice is both a food crop and an export. Cotton is the main cash crop and the raw material for the textile industry. Sugarcane is the raw material for sugar mills. The fertile plains of the Punjab and Sindh grow most of these crops.
Irrigation is needed because rainfall is low in much of the country. The Indus Basin has the largest connected canal system in the world. Barrages and dams such as Tarbela and Mangla store water and produce electricity. Tube wells are also used, especially in the Punjab. In 1960 the Indus Waters Treaty between Pakistan and India shared the waters of the western and eastern rivers.
Farming has several problems. Waterlogging and salinity damage land when too much water is used and drainage is poor. Small farms, old methods, poor seed and fertiliser, the cost of inputs and shortage of water in dry years reduce yields. Floods and pests cause losses. Steps to improve farming include better seed, balanced fertiliser, efficient irrigation and training of farmers.
Industry changes raw materials into goods. Textile is the largest industry of Pakistan and uses local cotton to produce yarn, cloth and garments. Other industries are sugar, cement, fertiliser, food processing, leather, sports goods and surgical instruments. Sialkot is known for sports goods and surgical instruments, Faisalabad for textiles, and Karachi for many industries.
Industries need raw materials, power, transport, skilled labour and markets. Pakistan has problems of shortage and cost of energy, old machinery in some mills and competition from other countries. The government supports industry with industrial estates, loans and efforts to improve exports.
Study tip: Make a table of the two seasons with sowing time, harvest time and the main crops. Add a column for the area where each crop grows.
Definitions and flashcards
Say the meaning first, then open the card to check.
Rabi
Crops sown in the cool season and harvested in spring.
Kharif
Crops sown in the hot season and harvested in autumn.
Cash crop
A crop grown mainly for sale.
Barrage
A structure across a river that raises the water level and sends it into canals.
Waterlogging
Rising of the water table so that the soil is too wet for crops.
Salinity
A high level of salts in the soil.
Industrial estate
An area planned for factories with roads, power and water.
Raw material
A material that is changed into a finished product.
Short questions with model answers
These are the kind of questions asked for 2, 3 and 5 marks. Try each one before opening the answer.
Differentiate between rabi and kharif crops. (3 marks)
Rabi crops, such as wheat and gram, are sown in the cool season and harvested in spring. Kharif crops, such as rice and cotton, are sown in the hot season and harvested in autumn.
Why is cotton important for Pakistan? (3 marks)
It is the main cash crop and the raw material of the textile industry, the largest industry of Pakistan. Cotton, yarn and cloth are important exports.
What are waterlogging and salinity? (3 marks)
Waterlogging is the rise of the water table until the soil is soaked. Salinity is the gathering of salts in the soil. Both reduce crop yields and are caused by too much canal water and poor drainage.
Name three industries of Pakistan. (2 marks)
The textile industry, the sugar industry and the cement industry. Fertiliser and sports goods are other examples.
Describe the problems of agriculture in Pakistan. (5 marks)
Waterlogging and salinity reduce the yield. Many farms are small and farmers use old methods. Good seed and fertiliser are costly. Water is short in dry years, and floods and pests cause losses. Prices of crops may be low for farmers.
What do industries need for their growth? (3 marks)
They need raw materials, power, transport, skilled labour, capital and markets. The government helps with industrial estates and loans.
Common mistakes
- Placing wheat in the kharif season. It is a rabi crop.
- Writing that cotton is a rabi crop. It is a kharif crop.
- Naming problems of agriculture but giving no way to improve them.
- Giving a city for an industry without saying what the industry makes.