Muhammad Saleem

Close coordination among researchers, the private sector, and farmers can help improve agricultural productivity, increase exports, and boost the development of agro-based industries.

Muhammad Bilal, a farmer, told WealthPK that agriculture will be very different in the next decade, as climate change is altering the cultivation patterns. Given the situation, better coordination among researchers, businesses, and farmers is crucial. “It's not a luxury — it’s a necessity now. Together, they can change Pakistan’s agriculture sector into a powerful engine to generate jobs and ensure national growth,” he said.

He said farmers need proper training to meet the emerging challenges, as well as better access to markets. If companies or government officials come to villages, they must listen to farmers so that their issues can be resolved on their doorstep. Bilal also stressed the need for soft loans so that farmers can purchase the latest machinery to improve the crop yield.

He suggested that the government devise a strategy for women in the rural areas, as many women in farming communities carry out most of the harvesting and livestock work. However, these women are left out of the conversation. “We must give them a seat at the table if we want to truly improve the agriculture sector,” he urged.

Dr. Muhammad Nadeem of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, told WealthPK that different institutions were conducting research for the betterment of the agriculture sector. However, he noted that research sitting on the institutions’ shelves is useless. “We have to apply this research with the help of farmers so that we can obtain the desired results, and that's only possible if the farming community and researchers maintain close coordination,” he said.

He said researchers spend years developing new crop varieties, disease-resistant seeds, and improved irrigation techniques. Unless farmers are trained to use them, the entire effort of researchers will go down the drain, he said. “When we talk directly with farmers, researchers efficiently learn about their issues, and cultivators learn about modern solutions.

It creates a two-way flow of knowledge that leads to real change, which is mandatory for the agriculture sector in Pakistan,” he added. Although agriculture experts, researchers, and officials from the agriculture department often raise slogans about building close coordination with farmers, their efforts are not appreciable in practice. The farmers are not receiving the required support from researchers.

Because of this, most farmers, especially in rural areas like mine, still rely on traditional methods, he explained. He claimed that farmers rarely see anyone from universities or research departments visiting their villages. “There is a huge gap between farmers and researchers. If someone does visit, it’s usually a quick seminar in English, and most farmers are not aware of this language.

We need regular guidance, in simple Urdu or Punjabi, right in our fields–using real-life examples,” he suggested. Dr. Nadeem said as an agricultural country, Pakistan needs to establish agricultural innovation hubs in different districts, featuring research labs, farmer training centers, and market linkages. He suggested tax breaks for private companies so they can invest in rural innovation.

He also emphasized the urgent need to give a voice to farmers' unions so that policymakers and growers can make joint decisions to improve the agriculture sector. “When we align our goals, agriculture has the tremendous potential to lift the entire economy,” he said.

Credit: INP-WealthPk