Pakistan is moving to digitize its agriculture sector with a bold new plan called Agri Stack, a national initiative designed to centralize farmer data, modernize services, and improve market access.
The project was presented on Friday during a high-level consultation hosted by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) alongside the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR), the Land Information & Management System (LIMS), and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
The meeting brought together representatives from government bodies, agri-tech startups, telecom operators, fintech companies, farmer associations, academia, and international development agencies to discuss how to roll out the program.
From scattered records to smart farming
Speaking at the event, Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan’s farming industry struggles with fragmented information, poor farmer credit histories, inefficient subsidy delivery, and weak links to markets.
“Agri Stack will give every farmer a verified digital identity, integrate land records, offer precision farming advice, and simplify access to subsidies, insurance, and credit,” she said, adding that the program supports the Prime Minister’s vision for a “Digital Nation Pakistan.”
Central database to drive decisions
Retired Maj Gen Ayub Ahsan Bhatti, Director General of LIMS, described the plan—also known as PAKGROW—as a game changer, especially for smallholder farmers. He said the system will also help policymakers make data-driven decisions.
Dr. M Waqar Yasin, CEO of LIMS, explained that LIMS will act as the national agricultural data hub, consolidating information from multiple sources to deliver farm-specific insights for all stakeholders.
Core features and next steps
The digital ecosystem will include:
- Farmer Digital IDs
- Consent-based data sharing
- Secure payment systems
- Satellite-based crop monitoring
- Online marketplaces
A steering committee co-led by MoITT and MNFSR will oversee governance, while a technical group will focus on data security. Public-private pilot projects are planned to test priority services within the next 12 to 18 months, such as smart subsidy programs, weather-indexed crop insurance, alternative credit scoring, and digital market linkages.
Rafique Ahmed Buriro, CEO of Ignite, stressed that the infrastructure will be open, secure, and scalable, positioning Agri Stack as “the backbone of sustainable, innovative farming in Pakistan.”
If implemented successfully, Agri Stack could help farmers boost productivity, increase financial inclusion, and strengthen resilience against climate and market shocks—marking a decisive shift toward data-driven agriculture in Pakistan.
