Islamabad, Dec 9: Post-harvest losses in Pakistan are estimated to be 20-40 percent for various crops due to a lack of infrastructure, equipment, and modern farming technologies, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). These losses contribute to food insecurity and significant economic losses for farmers.
The ADB report highlights the potential of the agricultural sector to contribute more to Pakistan’s GDP by adopting innovative technologies that replace outdated farming techniques. However, the country’s farm mechanization is still in its early stages, with only about 50 percent adoption, especially among smallholders.
Several factors hinder the adoption of mechanization, including small landholdings, lack of access to credit, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient skilled labor.
The lack of knowledge about new agricultural technologies, exacerbated by limited extension services and information barriers, further impedes progress. Pakistan’s agriculture employs over 37% of the labor force and contributes nearly 30% to GDP, yet the sector struggles with inefficiency due to outdated practices.
The Pakistani government has made efforts to address these issues, such as offering subsidies for agricultural machinery, establishing machinery banks, and providing extension services. Despite these efforts, the uptake of mechanization remains low, signaling a need for targeted interventions. The ADB report emphasizes that mechanization could also help manage agricultural by-products, like straw, which are often wasted in traditional farming systems. Efficient harvesters could collect and process straw, creating additional income for farmers by selling it as livestock feed.
Mechanization could also reduce the practice of stubble burning, which causes environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. With the proper machinery, rice farmers could leave behind valuable straw, which is easier to collect and sell at higher prices. Moreover, mechanization can improve the quality of agricultural products, leading to better market prices and profitability for farmers. By reducing labor costs in land preparation, sowing, and harvesting, mechanization can help farmers lower production costs and increase their profit margins.
The benefits of mechanization, however, are dependent on complementary factors such as access to financing, improved inputs, and supporting infrastructure. Therefore, promoting mechanization should be accompanied by broader policy interventions to improve overall farm productivity and performance.
