In a significant stride towards modernizing Pakistan’s agricultural sector, the second batch of 1,000 Pakistani agricultural specialists has returned from an intensive training program in China. This initiative, conducted under the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Capacity Building Initiative, aimed to equip professionals with advanced expertise in smart farming technologies, fostering innovation and hands-on technology transfer.
The training took place at prestigious institutions in Wuhan and Chengdu, with participants delving into specialized courses that covered a range of cutting-edge technologies. Among the returning experts is Hafiz Muhammad Mohsin Raza, a Unit Head at Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, who completed training in artificial intelligence, drones, and the Internet of Things at Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan. Raza emphasized the practical value of the program, stating that it helped him gain hands-on knowledge in drone applications and modern farming methods used in China. He aims to leverage these insights to design better financial products and policies, enabling local farmers to access loans for climate-resilient, technology-driven agriculture.
Muhammad Usama, an early-career agriculture professional who also trained at Huazhong Agricultural University, described China as a “living laboratory” for agricultural transformation. Noting shared challenges such as food security and climate stress, Usama sought to learn from China’s integration of digital tools, smart machinery, and efficient irrigation systems. He plans to organize training sessions and build lasting collaborative networks with Chinese institutions to launch joint projects in Pakistan, focusing on adaptable practical models rather than just theory.
For researchers like Fraz Ahmad Khan, a scientific officer at the Rice Research Institute in Punjab, the program provided a deep dive into cutting-edge applications. Highlighting his hands-on experience with AI-driven crop models and drone-based phenotyping, Khan stressed that AI-powered precision agriculture is essential to address water scarcity and high input costs in Pakistan. He proposed starting with pilot smart farms at research stations in Pakistan to develop localized and scalable models.
The program also delivered valuable insights for horticultural specialists. Maqbool Ahmad from the Mango Research Institute in Multan visited production bases in Sichuan, including Panzhihua, where he observed advanced cultivation and processing techniques that have significantly boosted yields. Ahmad plans to introduce small drones for orchard monitoring and spraying, as well as modern drying techniques to strengthen Pakistan’s dried mango industry, reduce post-harvest losses, and increase farmers’ incomes.
The collective experience of this cohort underscores a strong consensus on the urgency of adopting smart agriculture. The experts are poised to bridge the gap between research and field applications, advocate for supportive policies in financing and extension services, and enhance agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and China. As expressed by Maqbool Ahmad, seeing China’s progress has been a powerful motivator, and the hope is that the exchange will continue so that these concepts can take root and become a fruitful part of Pakistan’s agricultural system, driving it towards a more productive and sustainable future.