FAISALABAD: Digital farming is crucial for revitalizing Pakistan’s agricultural sector, which contributes significantly to GDP and employment but lags behind due to outdated practices. Despite producing substantial yields in wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, cotton, and mangoes, Pakistan struggles to enhance its international competitiveness due to inadequate technology adoption and value addition challenges.
Efforts are underway with a National Action Plan for agricultural modernization, focusing on capacity building and technology extension. However, small-scale farmers face barriers like adoption costs, technology access, and awareness gaps. Modern techniques such as precision agriculture and farm data digitalization offer potential to reduce input costs and enhance productivity, addressing financial constraints for small growers.
Dr. Saqib Ali from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad emphasizes the necessity of digital tools like AI, which significantly improve seed germination monitoring, irrigation efficiency through drip systems, and optimized fertilizer and pesticide use. Such advancements, utilized by a minority of progressive farmers, demonstrate higher yields and economic benefits.
Moreover, digitalization can empower farmers with real-time market insights, reducing dependency on middlemen and optimizing supply chain dynamics. Technologies like drones for spraying and AI-based crop monitoring minimize crop wastage and disease risks, enhancing overall production by up to 10%.
President of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dr. Khurram Tariq, underscores the transformative potential of digital agriculture initiatives like “Cyberabad.” This project aims to integrate AI across sectors, including agriculture, to boost productivity and economic competitiveness.
As global economies embrace digital transformation in agriculture, Pakistan’s adoption of these technologies becomes imperative for achieving food security, value addition, and export competitiveness. By leveraging modern techniques and policy reforms, Pakistan can harness its agricultural potential to meet domestic needs, enhance product value, and bolster foreign exchange earnings, driving comprehensive economic growth and development.
