Advancing Pakistan’s Agriculture with Digital Farming Techniques
Published on: July 1, 2024.
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Revitalizing Pakistan’s Agricultural Sector Through Digital Farming
Digital farming is a crucial aspect of revitalizing Pakistan’s agricultural sector, which plays a significant role in the country’s GDP and employment. However, outdated practices have held back the sector’s international competitiveness, despite the substantial yields in wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, cotton, and mangoes.
To address these challenges, a National Action Plan for agricultural modernization is underway, with a focus on capacity building and technology extension. However, small-scale farmers face barriers such as adoption costs, limited technology access, and awareness gaps. Fortunately, modern techniques like precision agriculture and farm data digitalization offer potential solutions by reducing input costs and improving productivity.
Dr. Saqib Ali from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad highlights the importance of digital tools like AI in improving seed germination monitoring, enhancing irrigation efficiency through drip systems, and optimizing fertilizer and pesticide use. These advancements have been adopted by a minority of progressive farmers, resulting in higher yields and economic benefits.
Furthermore, digitalization can empower farmers with real-time market insights, reducing reliance on middlemen and optimizing supply chain dynamics. Technologies like drones for spraying and AI-based crop monitoring minimize crop wastage and disease risks, leading to an overall production increase of up to 10%.
Dr. Khurram Tariq, the President of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, emphasizes 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, it becomes imperative for Pakistan to adopt these technologies to achieve food security, value addition, and export competitiveness. By embracing modern techniques and implementing policy reforms, Pakistan can unlock its agricultural potential to meet domestic needs, enhance product value, and increase foreign exchange earnings. This will drive comprehensive economic growth and development in the country.
Source: [WENewsEnglish](https://wenewsenglish.pk){:target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”}
