Pakistan’s farmers are being asked to grow more with less. Costs keep rising, water is getting harder to secure, weather has become less predictable and crop disease adds another layer of risk. A recent Business Recorder commentary by Tariq Khalique makes the case that a new generation of agri-tech startups can help through mobile apps, satellite monitoring, smart irrigation, digital payments and online marketplaces. The case is a reasonable one. But the sector should be careful about how it measures progress. The number of startups and platforms is a poor indicator. What matters is whether a small farmer with a basic phone, an unreliable signal and limited cash finds a digital tool useful enough to keep using.
The most immediate need is timely information. A farmer who notices a pest problem or an unfamiliar disease has traditionally turned to a local dealer, an agricultural officer or a neighbour, and the quality of that advice varies widely. Digital services can deliver guidance on crops, weather, fertiliser and market conditions far more quickly, particularly in areas where extension support is thin. In farming, timing often decides the outcome, so a well-timed piece of advice can matter as much as the inputs themselves. That advice has to be accurate, and it has to be delivered in a form farmers can follow, which usually means local languages and simple formats rather than feature-heavy applications.
Data collected from farms could also change how agriculture is financed. Banks lend cautiously to small farmers because they rarely have formal records or the kind of collateral that lenders recognise. Satellite imagery, digital transaction histories and other data could give financial institutions a clearer picture of a farm’s condition and risk, making formal credit easier to extend. This is one of the more promising uses of agri-tech because it addresses a constraint that has held back investment in seed, fertiliser and equipment for years. It also raises a question that deserves attention early. Farmers should know who holds information about their land and crops, how it is used and whether it can be shared with lenders or buyers without their consent.
Water is where the stakes are highest. Agriculture accounts for a large share of the country’s water use, while climate pressure and supply concerns continue to grow. Sensors that measure soil moisture, combined with weather data, can help farmers irrigate when crops actually need water instead of following a fixed routine. Precision techniques go a step further by showing which parts of a field need more water, fertiliser or pest control. For a country under pressure on both land and water, using existing resources more efficiently is likely to matter more than adding new ones. The obstacle is cost. Sensors, drones and advanced equipment are often out of reach for smallholders, so startups that build affordable, simple services are more likely to make a difference than those aimed only at large agribusinesses.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to find a place in this picture, most visibly in crop disease detection. A farmer could photograph a damaged plant and receive an early indication of what might be wrong and what to try. Such tools remain in development, and their reliability depends on the data behind them and the conditions in which they are used. They are best treated as a first check that helps a farmer decide when to seek expert advice, not as a substitute for agricultural specialists. Even that limited role could be valuable for farmers in remote areas who may be a long way from professional help.
Some of the largest gains may come after the harvest rather than in the field. Small farmers often depend on middlemen and have little visibility into prices in other markets. Digital marketplaces will not necessarily remove intermediaries, but they can widen the choice of buyers and give farmers better information about where and when to sell. Poor storage, weak transport and the absence of cold chains mean that a significant part of perishable produce can be lost before it reaches consumers, and growing more food loses its value if it spoils along the way. Logistics platforms that coordinate transport and storage, and cold storage that lets farmers hold produce until prices improve, deserve as much attention as the tools used on the farm.
Adoption will depend on access and trust. Not every farmer has a smartphone, dependable internet or the digital skills to use advanced applications, and electricity and telecom coverage differ sharply across rural areas. Farmers are also unlikely to adopt something merely because it is described as innovative. They want evidence that it works on their land and pays for itself. Demonstration farms, hands-on training and support in local languages can build that confidence. Technology has to fit the way farming is actually done, rather than asking farmers to rebuild their routines around it.
Government and universities have a part to play as well. Better digital infrastructure in rural areas, sustained agricultural research, easier access to finance and support for early-stage startups would give innovation a stronger footing. Universities could work more closely with farmers and technology companies to develop tools that suit local conditions. None of this replaces the basics. Farmers still need dependable water, good seed, roads, storage and access to markets, and digital services can only improve how those resources are used. A digital push that ignores the fundamentals would leave the underlying problems in place.
The real test for Pakistan’s agri-tech sector is whether it can move beyond technology hubs and reach farmers who have never used a farming app. The most useful measures would be how many small farmers actively use these tools, how much water and input cost they save, how many gain access to formal credit for the first time and how much produce is saved from post-harvest loss. If those numbers move, agri-tech will have earned its place in Pakistan’s agricultural economy. If they do not, it will remain a promising idea that mostly served those who were already well placed to adopt it.
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