Employing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Pakistan’s Agriculture Sector: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

The employment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the agriculture sector is revolutionising farming practices globally. These practices increase crop yield by minimising resource loss through targeted use of inputs, including water and fertilisers. With agriculture as its leading contributor to GDP, Pakistan needs to integrate AI-driven solutions to address the challenges this sector faces. Despite being the leading producer of various crops, Pakistan’s per-acre yield has been affected by several factors, including soil degradation, climate change and limited water resources. This situation necessitates the utilisation of AI-driven data to counter these challenges. This paper examines the prospect of Pakistan employing this technology across various agricultural domains. It highlights the current extent of AI applications, including remote sensing for crop management, smart irrigation, predictive analytics for weather forecasting and yield prediction and supply chain optimisation by various public and private stakeholders. It further sheds light on the various financial, administrative and social challenges hindering farmers’ adoption of AI. This paper concludes by giving a series of recommendations that are required to steer the inclusive and timely implementation of AI across various facets of the agriculture sector in Pakistan.