August 8, 2025 I Friday:
By Sajid Mahmood
Today, an important program titled “AgriStack: Building Pakistan’s Digital Agricultural Infrastructure” was held at the National Incubation Center in Islamabad. The timing couldn’t be more crucial, as the need to modernize agriculture is now being felt more than ever. This initiative, jointly launched by the Ministry of IT and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, is a well-thought-out effort to connect agriculture with better governance, timely information, and decisions based on real-time data. Several practical steps were announced during the program. These include setting up a system to provide farmers with timely weather updates and crop-related advice, estimates for major crops, early detection of pest attacks, digital land mapping, and record-keeping. Special mention was made of plans for a complete survey of agricultural lands in Balochistan and a national strategy to combat pests damaging cotton crops — both of which indicate that this initiative is not just confined to paper, but is moving toward on-the-ground action.
One of the biggest gaps in our agricultural system has been the lack of decision-making based on accurate and timely information. For years, this has kept our farmers in a cycle of uncertainty. If the data provided is reliable, consistent, and easy to understand, even a small farmer can make informed decisions about his land, his crops, and his future. But this vision can only succeed if it’s implemented effectively. Access to technology in rural areas, training in local languages, and a system designed with the farmer in mind are not just important — they are essential. Without making the farmer a true stakeholder in this process, this entire model will remain a distant concept rather than a ground reality. To bring efforts like AgriStack down to the grassroots level, complete coordination between federal and provincial governments is vital. Institutions must collaborate, and continuous monitoring is necessary to ensure results. Otherwise, such projects risk becoming mere showcases, with little impact on the ground.
Pakistan’s agriculture cannot afford any more delays. If our state institutions begin treating farmers as central to decision-making, we can bring about real change in the agri-economy. Digital tools are not just a convenience anymore ; they are rapidly becoming the foundation for future agricultural growth. But only if they stay rooted in the real needs of the land and the farmer, and if action takes priority over policy on paper.