By Qudsia Bano ISLAMABAD, Nov 11 (INP-WealthPK): Rice is the second most important food and cash crop in Pakistan. The country enjoys a competitive advantage in the production of aromatic basmati rice. As a result, it is a significant export for Pakistan, bringing in significant revenue for the government through export tariffs. The government has implemented various measures to enhance rice production. The largest rice-producing provinces are Punjab and Sindh, which account for 56 per cent and 39 per cent of total production, respectively. In Sindh, suggested rice varieties have a potential yield that is higher than the average yield obtained by small farmers. Those who practice cultivation using the most up to date rice production technologies can get higher yields. Due to improved profitability, hybrid rice sowing in Punjab has consumed roughly 15 per cent of the entire farmed area of basmati rice this year, with per acre yields ranging from 140 to 150 maund. Exporters claim that basmati rice growers harvest 35 to 40 maund per acre. Similarly, basmati rice yields earn about Rs70,000 to Rs80,000 per acre, while hybrid rice yields earn about Rs140,000 to Rs150,000 per acre. "Because of increased profitability, rice producers are shifting to hybrid varieties, which is only natural," says SM Naveed, President of the Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI). Following the completion of required international food safety and security criteria, China has recently approved the shipment of additional seven Pakistani rice units. The idea would further boost rice exports and allow Pakistani rice exporters to break into the Chinese market. Pakistan's Department of Plant Protection and relevant Chinese authorities held several meetings and video conferences to materialise the existing scope of local rice exports to China. Pakistan is ready to sell 3.75 million tonnes of rice to China after satisfying yearly domestic consumption of 2.5 million tonnes. With a 244 per cent rise in paddy shipments to China over the last two years, China has emerged as one of Pakistan's major rice export destinations. Within a year, PCJCCI plan to triple rice shipments to China. If persistent efforts to sell Pakistani rice are pursued, focusing on the needs of the Chinese population, the dream of exporting roughly 10 million tonnes of Irri-6 rice to China could become a reality. Instead of physical seedling planting, the Rice Research Institute has devised new procedures for cultivating rice using the broadcasting system. https://reap.com.pk/ Rice production has recently faced several issues that threaten its production, long-term viability, and exportability. Rice business is confronted with numerous environmental and value chain difficulties. Rice is traditionally farmed in puddled fields in Pakistan, as it is in other major rice-producing countries in Asia. However, rising water scarcity as a result of climate change and competition for freshwater raise questions about the long-term viability of current rice-growing practices, necessitating a paradigm shift in the traditional rice-growing system. Water is used extensively in traditional rice farming, with total input ranging from 1,500 to 3,000mm per season depending on soil type and agro-climatic conditions. Furthermore, labour is becoming scarce and, as a result, expensive. To ensure the rice farming long-term viability, new ideas and developments in rice sowing methods and irrigation systems are necessary. Drill seeding of rice under dry conditions, similar to other cereal crops like wheat and maize, is one possible answer to these problems. Dry direct-seeded rice (DSR) offers a significant potential for water conservation, irrigation scheduling and procedures. Another strategy is to design a precision water management and micro-irrigation system for DSR to save even more water for rice crops. Agriculture services should be recognised as an industry with appropriate incentives such as sales tax exemption on agricultural machine rental services, income tax relief, and investment loans to greatly increase local job creation.