Pakistan’s agricultural future depends not only on producing more, but on using water wisely, choosing better crops, improving rural infrastructure, and equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed.
On a summer morning in Kasur district, a farmer stands beside his wheat field watching water flow from his solar-powered tube well. The electricity bill is no longer a concern, but a new problem is emerging. Every year, he must dig deeper to access groundwater. Input costs continue to rise, weather patterns have become increasingly unpredictable, and despite working harder than ever, profits remain uncertain. Like millions of farmers across Pakistan, he is not simply growing crops. He is trying to secure a better future for his family in increasingly difficult circumstances.
His story reflects the reality facing Pakistan’s agriculture sector today. Agriculture remains one of the most important pillars of the national economy, contributing around one-fifth of GDP and providing livelihoods to millions of people. It feeds the nation, supports exports, and sustains rural communities. Yet despite fertile land, a hardworking farming population, and one of the world’s largest irrigation systems, Pakistan continues to lag behind several neighboring countries in agricultural productivity.
The challenge is not a lack of potential. Pakistan has the land, the climate, and the people needed to succeed. The real obstacles are inefficient water use, weak rural infrastructure, limited access to information, and the slow adoption of modern farming practices. If Pakistan wants stronger food security, higher rural incomes, and greater resilience to climate change, agriculture must become smarter, more productive, and more sustainable.
A comparison with neighboring countries shows how much room there is for improvement. Pakistan’s average wheat yield remains around 1.1 to 1.2 tons per acre, while India produces around 1.4 to 1.5 tons per acre and China exceeds 2 tons per acre. Rice tells a similar story. Pakistan produces around 1.5 to 1.6 tons per acre, compared with nearly 1.7 tons in India, around 2 tons in Bangladesh, and close to 3 tons in China. Sugarcane productivity also trails behind regional competitors.
These are not just numbers. They represent income that farmers are not earning, exports that are not taking place, and opportunities that are being missed. The encouraging news is that these gaps can be narrowed. Pakistani farmers are no less hardworking than their counterparts elsewhere. What they often lack is access to quality inputs, modern infrastructure, reliable information, and practical support services.
Across much of rural Pakistan, farming is still based largely on methods passed down from one generation to the next. This experience remains valuable and should never be dismissed. However, today’s challenges are very different from those faced by previous generations. Climate change, changing market conditions, rising production costs, and increasing water scarcity require new approaches alongside traditional wisdom.
Water is perhaps the most critical challenge facing agriculture today. Pakistan’s agriculture sector consumes nearly 90 percent of the country’s available freshwater resources, yet a significant amount is lost before it ever reaches crops. Water seeps from canals, evaporates in the heat, or is applied inefficiently in fields. At the same time, groundwater has become increasingly important for irrigation.
The scale of the challenge is alarming. Pakistan’s per capita water availability has fallen from more than 5,000 cubic meters in the years after independence to below 1,000 cubic meters today. In many parts of Punjab, groundwater levels are reportedly declining by 1 to 3 feet each year. If current trends continue, water scarcity could become one of the greatest threats to agricultural growth and food security.
The rapid expansion of solar-powered tube wells has brought both benefits and risks. Lower energy costs have made irrigation more affordable for many farmers. However, when pumping water becomes almost cost-free, there is a natural temptation to use more than necessary. As a result, groundwater reserves in some areas are declining at an unsustainable rate. Renewable energy should certainly be encouraged, but it must be accompanied by responsible water management and greater awareness about conservation.
Pakistan must therefore focus on using every drop of water more wisely. Drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, laser land leveling, lined watercourses, rainwater harvesting, small reservoirs, and soil-moisture monitoring can all help reduce waste and improve efficiency. These technologies are no longer optional luxuries; they are becoming necessities.
Better water management can also unlock the potential of Pakistan’s underused land. Across water-stressed regions such as Tharparkar, Cholistan, parts of Balochistan, Kachho, Potohar, the Koh-e-Suleiman belt, and tail-end canal areas of southern Punjab and Sindh, millions of acres remain uncultivated or are farmed only occasionally due to the unavailability of reliable water. National estimates suggest that Pakistan has around 20 million acres of cultivable wasteland. Even if only a portion of this land is brought into productive use through improved water management, rainwater harvesting, small reservoirs, and climate-smart farming practices, the impact on rural livelihoods and food security could be substantial.
Farmers also need better guidance on what to grow. Many continue cultivating crops that consume large amounts of water while generating relatively modest profits. As water becomes scarcer, crop choices must become smarter.
In many areas, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, medicinal plants, and selected fruit crops can provide higher returns while using less water. Yet many farmers lack access to reliable information about market demand, production costs, and profitability. Agricultural extension services should therefore focus not only on how to grow crops, but also on which crops make the most economic sense. The goal should not simply be higher production; it should be higher incomes.
Roads may not sound like an agricultural issue, but they are. In many rural areas, farmers struggle to transport their produce due to poor farm-to-market roads. Delays increase transportation costs and often reduce the quality and value of fresh produce before it reaches consumers. For perishable products such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy items, even a few hours can make a significant difference.
Improving rural roads can have a direct impact on farmer incomes. Better roads connect farmers to markets, storage facilities, suppliers, schools, healthcare, and financial services. In many cases, a good road can be just as valuable as a good harvest.
Technology can also help farmers make better decisions every day. Weather forecasts, pest alerts, irrigation advice, market prices, and crop recommendations can now be delivered directly to a farmer’s mobile phone. Imagine if the farmer in Kasur received an alert warning him of an approaching heatwave, advice on reducing water use, recommendations for a more profitable crop, and daily price updates from nearby markets. Such information could help him reduce risks, save money, and improve his income. In this context, Freedom Gate Prosperity’s proposed Kisaan AI concept reflects the kind of practical, farmer-focused innovation that Pakistan should encourage and develop.
Of course, technology alone is not the answer. Better farming requires better policies, stronger institutions, improved infrastructure, quality research, and greater investment in farmer education. Government agencies, universities, businesses, and civil society organizations all have a role to play.
Pakistan cannot afford to continue with business as usual. Water resources are shrinking, climate pressures are increasing, and neighboring countries are moving ahead. The cost of delay will be measured not only in lower crop yields but also in lost economic opportunities.
The next agricultural revolution in Pakistan will not come from a single machine, policy, or technology. It will come from helping farmers make better decisions, use water more efficiently, choose more profitable crops, and gain easier access to markets.
The farmer standing in his field in Kasur is not asking for charity. He is asking for opportunity. Give him reliable water, better roads, access to modern knowledge, and fair markets, and he will do the rest. Pakistan’s farmers have always fed the nation. With the right support, they can also help lead the country into its next chapter of economic growth, food security, and shared prosperity.
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Muhammad Anwar is a development professional and CEO of Freedom Gate Prosperity, with over three decades of experience in governance, civic engagement, and community development.
