Pakistan agricultural sector modernization reforms

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has initiated a series of reforms to modernize Pakistan’s agricultural sector, focusing on productivity, food security, and technological integration.

Initial efforts centered on the National Agriculture Research Center to ensure the delivery of high-quality, certified seeds to farmers. The government’s strategy includes the Agriculture Innovation and Growth Plan, which provides financial facilities, machinery, crop insurance, and electronic warehouse receipt financing. Plans also include developing organic production pilot areas in Balochistan with digital traceability to boost exports.

Subsequent developments expanded this overhaul to include the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council and a more detailed master plan for the National Agricultural Research Centre. This plan involves dividing the center into seven districts and establishing five centers of excellence, reference laboratories, and a private sector research park. Modernization efforts have further emphasized digital tools, such as AI-based applications for pest and plant identification, and a crop assessment program led by SUPARCO for improved yield forecasting.