Vice President of the Pakistan Business Forum (PBF), Chaudhry Ahmad Jawad, on Saturday, highlighted the urgent requirement for a consistent 5% annual growth in the country’s agriculture sector, supported by AI integration.

In a meeting with Atif Ikram, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Jawad stressed the significance of a dual strategy, involving both vertical growth, by increasing per-acre crop yields, and horizontal growth, by expanding cultivation through corporate farming. This approach aims to address the challenges of feeding a growing population and ensuring national food security. Currently, Pakistan’s per-acre yield lags behind the global average due to limited access to modern machinery and digital support services for farmers.

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Jawad urged the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a revolutionary tool to transform the agriculture sector, particularly in horticulture. AI, he argued, could address climate change challenges, optimise crop patterns, attract talent, and have a positive impact on the sector. Stressing the urgency of incorporating AI into the Green Pakistan Initiative, Jawad criticised the tendency of policymakers to spend excessive time in discussions.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^th, 2024.

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