Pakistan is moving towards greater use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies to modernise its agriculture sector, with new initiatives focused on improving crop monitoring, pest detection and agricultural research.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently approved a new master plan for the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s agricultural research capabilities and bringing them in line with international standards. The reforms include greater adoption of modern technologies, artificial intelligence and digital systems to improve farm productivity.

Among the initiatives discussed are an AI-based application for identifying plants and pests, a SUPARCO-backed crop assessment programme and other technology-driven agricultural projects already moving towards implementation. The government has also directed the development of a comprehensive national system for estimating crop production.

The reforms form part of broader efforts to support small and medium-scale farmers through innovation, research, digitalisation and modern agricultural practices.

With agriculture remaining central to Pakistan’s economy and food security, the integration of AI and digital technologies could help farmers access timely information, identify crop threats earlier and make more informed decisions.

The initiative signals another step towards building a smarter, technology-enabled and more productive agricultural sector in Pakistan.