Agriculture remains the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, contributing 19% to GDP and employing nearly 40% of the workforce. Yet, for millions of smallholder farmers, the challenges are mounting—erratic weather patterns, declining arable land, and rising input costs threaten their livelihoods. For years, the sector has struggled with inefficiencies in irrigation management, outdated farming techniques, and poor access to market data. (AgriEconomist)

But change is underway. Across the country, digital tools and civic technology are transforming the way Pakistan’s farmers manage resources, access financial services, and connect to markets. The government and private sector have launched satellite-based crop monitoring, AI-driven farm analytics, and e-governance platforms to modernize agriculture. However, while these innovations hold great promise, they also expose systemic challenges—a lack of rural internet infrastructure, low digital literacy, and weak policy coordination.

The question is no longer whether digital agriculture is the future—it is how quickly Pakistan can scale these solutions to benefit its farmers equitably.

The Digital Shift in Agriculture: Promise and Reality

For decades, Pakistan’s irrigation system has remained largely unchanged, plagued by inefficiencies and manual record-keeping. Farmers often receive unequal water allocations, while revenue leakages in water pricing (Abiana) drain provincial budgets. The situation worsens in drought-prone regions, where farmers rely on groundwater extraction, depleting reserves at an unsustainable rate.

Case Study: E-Abiana – A Digital Lifeline for Water Management

To combat this crisis, Code for Pakistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB) are introducing E-Abiana, a digital water governance system. The project aims to:

•  Digitize water billing and payments, eliminating administrative delays.
• Use open data for real-time decision-making on water conservation.
• Give farmers access to online water usage records, ensuring transparency.

For farmers like Mehr Bacha Khan, a wheat grower from Mardan, the system is a game changer. “Previously, we never knew when our water dues were actually recorded or whether we were overcharged. Now, everything is digital—we can see our bills online, and payments are hassle-free.”

By reducing corruption, improving efficiency, and preventing water overuse, E-Abiana could serve as a model for other provinces struggling with water mismanagement. However, its success will depend on scaling beyond pilot projects and integrating it with broader agricultural policies.

Government-Led Smart Farming: Land Information and Management System (LIMS)

While digital water management is one side of the equation, smart farming solutions are equally critical. Recognizing the need for data-driven agricultural policies, the Government of Pakistan has introduced the Land Information and Management System (LIMS), a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based tool aimed at improving resource management, soil health monitoring, and climate adaptation. (Digital Pakistan)

LIMS provides policymakers with:

• Satellite-based crop monitoring, allowing real-time tracking of agricultural productivity.
• Water usage and irrigation efficiency data, ensuring better resource allocation.
• Optimized fertilizer and pesticide application, reducing environmental impact.

By integrating GIS-based insights into decision-making, Pakistan can proactively address climate risks, reduce input costs, and improve food security. However, the success of LIMS depends on its accessibility—ensuring that insights reach not just policymakers, but also farmers, extension workers, and agribusinesses.

Closing the Connectivity Gap: Digital Dera in Action

For many farmers, access to real-time weather forecasts, market prices, and agronomic advice remains a luxury. Limited internet access in rural areas prevents farmers from using mobile apps and AI-driven tools that could boost their productivity.

In Chak 26 S/P, Pakpattan, an initiative called Digital Dera is tackling this challenge. The project provides free community internet access, allowing farmers to:

• Monitor crop prices before selling their harvest.
• Use e-learning tools to adopt modern farming techniques.
• Access digital financial services, reducing reliance on exploitative middlemen.

While Digital Dera is a step forward, expanding rural broadband remains a national priority. Without large-scale investments in internet infrastructure, millions of farmers will remain excluded from Pakistan’s digital revolution. (Internet Society)

AI and Smart Farming: From Innovation to Implementation

Across the world, AI-driven precision farming is reducing costs and increasing yields. In Pakistan, startups like Farmdar are pioneering this approach by using satellite imagery and AI to provide real-time data on soil health, irrigation, and pest control. (The Nation)

• Remote sensing detects pest outbreaks early, preventing crop losses.
• AI-driven irrigation management conserves water, reducing costs for farmers.
• Smart recommendations optimize fertilizer use, improving sustainability.

"We were struggling to keep our own farm afloat, and we knew we weren’t alone," says Muhammad Bukhari, co-founder of Farmdar. His company now provides affordable AI-powered solutions, previously accessible only to large-scale farmers.

However, adoption remains low among smallholders due to cost barriers and lack of awareness. To bridge this gap, public-private partnerships must work to subsidize smart farming technologies and integrate them into government advisory programs.

Improving Agricultural Policies: The TAP-AIS Project

Recognizing the need for stronger policy coordination, the FAO-led TAP-AIS project, funded by the EU’s DeSIRA initiative, conducted a review of Pakistan’s agricultural innovation framework. 

The study revealed critical weaknesses:

• Weak coordination between government agencies, agritech startups, and research institutions.
• Limited availability of digital tools designed for smallholder farmers.
• Slow adoption of market-driven agricultural strategies, hindering private-sector involvement.

To address these gaps, the next phase (2023–2024) will focus on:

• Developing low-cost smart farming solutions, tailored for small farmers.
• Bridging the gap between policymakers and agritech innovators.
• Promoting public-private partnerships to scale successful digital interventions.

By aligning policy, technology, and market forces, TAP-AIS could unlock the full potential of digital agriculture, but only if the government prioritizes investment and execution.

Challenges in Scaling Digital Agriculture

Despite these efforts, several challenges remain:

• Infrastructure Gaps: Many rural areas still lack reliable internet and electricity, which makes it difficult for farmers to use digital tools (AgriLinks).
• The Digital Divide: Farmers in remote areas often lack digital literacy and training on smart farming technologies, making adoption difficult (RFILC).
• Climate Change Risks: Pakistan’s agricultural sector is highly vulnerable to climate-related disruptions, such as floods and droughts (INP WealthPK).
• Policy and Investment Gaps: The lack of coherent government policies and low private sector investment in agritech limits long-term adoption (Criterion Quarterly).

Addressing these issues will require bold policy interventions, increased investment, and cross-sector collaboration.

The Way Forward: Policy Recommendations

To maximize the potential of digital agriculture and civic technology in Pakistan, efforts should focus on the following key areas:

1. Expanding Digital Infrastructure

• Accelerate rural broadband expansion by prioritizing underserved agricultural regions and leveraging Universal Service Fund (USF) initiatives.
• Introduce targeted subsidies for mobile internet and IoT adoption, making smart farming tools accessible to smallholder farmers.
• Support community-led connectivity initiatives, such as localized Wi-Fi networks and digital resource centers, to enable better farmer engagement.

2. Strengthening Digital Governance in Agriculture

• Scale and optimize E-Abiana and similar digital water governance tools to streamline irrigation management, reduce water wastage, and enhance subsidy delivery.
• Expand open data initiatives to improve policymaking on climate adaptation, land use, and sustainable farming practices.
• Develop mobile-based grievance redressal systems to improve service delivery and accessibility for farmers in remote areas.

3. Enabling Public-Private Collaboration

• Foster partnerships between agritech startups, telecom providers, and government bodies to accelerate digital transformation in agriculture.
• Encourage investment in AI-driven smart farming tools, such as remote sensing, precision irrigation, and pest detection, to enhance productivity.
• Establish government-backed agritech innovation funds to support startups working on scalable solutions for Pakistan’s agricultural challenges.

4. Advancing Climate-Smart Farming Solutions

• Deploy AI-powered climate forecasting tools accessible via SMS and mobile apps, helping farmers make data-driven planting and harvesting decisions.
• Expand weather-indexed crop insurance schemes with easy mobile-based enrollment, ensuring small farmers can mitigate climate risks.
• Promote water-efficient farming techniques by integrating digital advisory services with government extension programs.

5. Investing in Digital Training and Inclusion

• Launch localized e-learning platforms on climate-resilient farming, mobile banking for farmers, and agri-business development, ensuring content is available in Urdu and regional languages.
• Establish farmer-led digital knowledge hubs, where experienced farmers and agronomists provide hands-on guidance through digital forums and community centers.
• Support women-led agribusinesses by expanding access to digital marketplaces, finance, and mentorship, ensuring gender-inclusive agricultural development.

By implementing these digital interventions, we can enhance agricultural efficiency, strengthen food security, and improve climate resilience, ensuring long-term sustainability for farming communities.

Conclusion: A Digital Future for Pakistan’s Farmers

Pakistan stands at a critical juncture — embracing digital agriculture could transform the livelihoods of millions of farmers, making them more resilient, productive, and climate-smart. However, this shift must be inclusive, ensuring that technology benefits even the smallest landholders.

With the right infrastructure, policy coordination, and investment in digital literacy, Pakistan’s agricultural sector can move towards a sustainable, tech-driven future — one where every farmer, regardless of location, has the tools to succeed.

The future of agriculture is digital. The time to act is now.

Further Reading & Sources

📖 Pakistan’s Rural Economy: Challenges & Opportunities
📖 AI Farming for a Greener Tomorrow
📖 Smart Farming & Digital Transformation in Pakistan

Written by Amna Zafar