Pakistan currently has one of the fastest rates of population growth in the area—nearly 2%. It implies that future population growth will be out of proportion to the amount of food we produce, increasing the number of mouths we will need to feed.
Although Sadozai feels we may improve on our food production by embracing contemporary procedures that are on par with global norms and standards, our population may not experience any significant decline anytime soon.
Through agricultural production, associated jobs, and services, agriculture accounts for roughly 20% of Pakistan’s economy. We are still a long way from fully realizing the potential of our agricultural industry to create sustainable growth, according to Rabel Sadozai, Director of Marketing and Sales at Fatima Fertilizer.
According to Sadozai,
“Smart farming and the introduction of agritech can improve our agricultural output.”
She continues, “Pakistan has great agricultural potential, but we have not been able to fully realize it because we have not made the shift from traditional farming methods to modern, precise farming that is based on scientific understanding and technology.
Pakistan has a large wheat import bill despite having a farming-based economy. According to experts, Pakistan may need to import up to 4 million tonnes of wheat to make up for local shortages, which would cause the country’s wheat import bill to increase to $4 billion in FY 2023.
Agritech is being utilized to deliver weather updates, crop advisories, water, and soil testing to assist farmers plan and tend to their crops in a systematic manner, Sadozai said in response to inquiries about the nature of agritech and its acceptability.
“Farmers that implement technology quickly have seen a significant boost in their crop yield and, consequently, in their revenue. A bottom-up strategy will transfer the financial security at the local level into sustained economic growth at the macro level, she says.
“We now have firsthand knowledge of the effects that climate change can have on food security thanks to the recent floods in Pakistan. A severe food scarcity is imminent since, according to estimates, hundreds of thousands of acres of farmed crops, along with fruit orchards and animals, have been destroyed.”
In addition to being one of the biggest fertiliser producers, Rabel Sadozai’s company, Fatima Fertilizer, is a strong advocate for advancing agri-based technologies in the nation.
Through scientific advice on crop planning and management, water and soil testing, and the supply of tailored information based on the locality and land type of each farmer, Fatima Fertilizer has been enabling and empowering farmers.
Through a cutting-edge digital smartphone application named “Sarsabz Pakistan,” the company has systematised these services, and since its release, it has seen an unparalleled acceptance among farming communities across the country.
In addition to our promise to reach out to farmers and provide them with pertinent and useful information so they can make more educated decisions about their lands and crops, the Sarsabz Pakistan mobile app is an extension of our mission to promote agri-technology.
“With over 100,000 downloads on Google Play Store in just 10 months since debut, the application has been a resounding success among Pakistani farmers, becoming the fastest growing software within the agriculture sector.”
The software is written in straightforward Urdu so that the farming community can understand the warning. The app, according to Sadozai, is a one-stop shop for all information and specialised help linked to farming.
With the use of step-by-step alerts, the Sarsabz Pakistan app offers crop planning and management tools to assist with managing many farms and crops within a particular season. Additionally, it has a fertiliser calculator that allows users to precisely schedule fertiliser applications based on crop type, soil type, and the 4R rule (right source, right rate, right time, and right place), she added.
According to Sadozai, Fatima Fertilizer is the only business in Pakistan that offers free soil and water testing services. Farmers can use the company’s app to request that qualified agronomists visit their property and collect water and soil samples for testing.
Through the app, the test results are also communicated to them. The farmers are not only spared the bother of transporting the samples to the labs, but also valuable time that could be used to care for the crops.
“In the future, we intend to provide quick services through this app to increase its use and make it easier for farmers to apply for microloans and simple terms for leasing farm equipment. This might make it easier for them to quickly and conveniently acquire and handle crucial farm inputs. This can help them expand their agricultural operations and significantly boost their income and profitability,” according to Sadozai.
Initiatives like the Sarsabz smartphone app are the first manifestations of a grand ambition to digitise Pakistan’s agricultural industry, which can further the nation’s modernization efforts. There is a need to accomplish this, and the time is opportune to start the process, according to Rabel.
“The widespread use of cellphones and 3G/4G technology creates an environment that is conducive to the development of agritech in Pakistan. Even in remote areas, mobile internet and smartphones are widely used. It is a fantastic chance to increase agricultural technology adoption among farming communities for their socioeconomic development.”
She urged the government and important stakeholders to support active supporters of the cause, such as Fatima Fertilizer, so that their efforts can be amplified to have a wider and more significant influence on the nation.
One of the 10 nations most impacted by climate change is Pakistan. Food shortages will eventually be one of the main effects of climate change, along with natural disasters.
The time Pakistan may have before the worst effects manifest itself must be used to strengthen our social and economic safety nets.
Click here to get the Sarsabz Pakistan mobile application, or look up “Sarsabz Pakistan” in the Google Play Store.
