KARACHl: Pakistan`s crop yields can be elevated to global averages through product innovation and the integration of technology into farming practices.

These insights were shared during a webinar titled `Transforming Agriculture for a Food-Secure Pakistan`, held to commemorate Global Fertiliser Day.

The webinar was moderated by journalist Zarrar Khuhro and featured Dr Zaheer Ahmed Zahir, Director of the Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Atif Mohammad Ali, Vice President of Marketing at Engro Fertilisers, and Jawwad Hasan, CEO and co-founder of Agrilift, as subject matter experts.

Atif Mohammad Ali highlighted the importance of educating farmers on modern techniques and promoting the balanced use of fertilisers to tackle the challenge of low yields.

Mr Khuhro noted that while the agricultural sector contributes 24 per cent to Pakistan`s GDP and employs 40pc of the workforce, it still has significant untapped potential. The sector faces multiple challenges, including climate change, soil health issues, limited access to capital, and reliance on traditional farming methods.

Dr Zahir emphasised that food security goes beyond affordability and accessibility to include quality and nutrition aspects. This can only be achieved through the use of high-quality inputs. He urged policymakers and stakeholders to prioritise access to quality inputs.

Mr Hasan outlined that the challenges facing Pakistan`s agriculture sector present an opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate and leverage technology for actionable insights. While there can be resistance among farmers to adopting new technologies, he noted that larger farmers are increasingly recognising the benefits and are more open to changing their practices.