Arooj Zulfiqar

The use of modern technology is not only benefitting farmers but also attracting young entrepreneurs to the agriculture sector in Pakistan, WealthPK reports.

Technology has a major role in farming and agriculture practices. However, young people are mostly hesitant to choose agriculture as their profession or enter the agriculture sector owing to conventional methods of farming. In addition to stabilising the agriculture sector, the use of modern technology is also attracting young and educated people to the industry.

Imtiaz Hussain, Deputy Director General of the National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, told WealthPK that new farming technologies were attracting the young generation to the agriculture sector in the country.

He said that in the past, young people turned away from agriculture to avoid the long and difficult hours of work required for getting sufficient yield. However, the tendency was reversible with the use of the latest technologies in the agriculture sector, he added.

“In addition to stabilising farms in the immediate term, modern technology is transforming the role of the farmer to incorporate skill sets more relevant to a younger generation. This change can’t happen at a better time as conventional farming practices won’t attract youth,” said Imtiaz Hussain.

Agriculture is the major source of foreign reserves and Pakistan being an agrarian country relies heavily on this sector. The current share of agriculture accounts for 22% of the Gross Domestic Product against 19.2% in the previous year. In the country, about 83 million people are associated with the agriculture sector.

“With the development of digital technology, the use of technology in farming and agricultural operations has widened and farmers are benefiting from it. Continuous progress in agriculture is driven by the use of digital and analytical tools. This has improved crop yields and helped to boost the revenue of the farming community,” said Imtiaz Hussain.

He said that the farmers, who were quick to absorb new technology, were diversifying their operations and integrating technologies like artificial intelligence, remote sensing and others. “They can significantly decrease their reliance on inputs like water, fertiliser and pesticides by using these technologies to improve yields,” he added.

Imtiaz Hussain claimed that growing organic veggies for personal consumption would be the key advantage for young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector. The best vegetables for consumption, in his opinion, are those grown in a personal garden or on the roof of house.

“In terms of nutrition and safety, there is no substitute for organic agricultural products that people grow themselves,” said Imtiaz Hussain.

Pakistan still needs more advancement in technology adoption. In countries like Pakistan, where agriculture policies are not farmer-friendly, it is understandable that many people have been switching to the corporate sector.

“Besides the rest of the problems (we face), the main issue which discourages young farmers is that the market and government decide the final rate of our products, which is very unfortunate. The government should help young farmers to get access to the technology they need and provide subsidies to them on seeds to increase yields,” he told WealthPK.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk