Agricultural Sustainability & Economic Resilience in Pakistan

Sustainable agriculture is critical for Pakistan, a country where the agricultural sector contributes significantly to the national economy, accounting for 18.9% of the GDP and employing approximately 37.4% of the labor force (GOP, 2023). This sector not only supports rural livelihoods but also plays a central role in ensuring national food security. However, the long-term viability of agriculture in Pakistan is under serious threat due to unsustainable practices and the escalating impacts of climate change. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), sustainable farming practices in Pakistan must emphasize soil conservation, water-use efficiency, and resilience to climate variability. These interventions are crucial to mitigating land degradation, which currently affects about 60% of the country’s total land area (FAO, 2021).

Climate change poses a particularly urgent challenge. Pakistan is increasingly exposed to extreme weather events such as erratic monsoons, prolonged droughts, floods, and rising temperatures. These phenomena not only disrupt cropping cycles but also threaten water availability and reduce agricultural output. The World Bank (2023) warns that Pakistan could experience an 8–10% decline in agricultural productivity by 2040 if adaptive measures are not taken. In this context, sustainable agriculture becomes more than just a desirable practice, it is a national necessity.

A key aspect of sustainable agriculture is the balance between immediate productivity gains and the preservation of environmental resources for future use. This requires moving away from harmful practices like monocropping, over-irrigation, and the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. These approaches have already led to the degradation of approximately 30% of Pakistan’s soils, reducing fertility and increasing vulnerability to climate shocks (UNEP, 2022). Embracing agroecological methods, crop diversification, and integrated soil and water management strategies can pave the way for a more secure and resilient agricultural future.

Advancing Sustainable Agriculture Through Integrated Practices

Sustainable agriculture in Pakistan requires the adoption of diverse, locally adapted practices that balance productivity with environmental conservation. Among these, agroforestry, the strategic integration of trees with crops and livestock, emerges as a powerful solution. It improves soil stability, enhances biodiversity, and fosters long-term land productivity. Pakistan’s widely lauded Billion Tree Tsunami initiative demonstrated agroforestry's potential, significantly reducing soil erosion and restoring degraded ecosystems, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK Government, 2021). Moreover, agroforestry systems support vital ecosystem services such as pollination and natural pest control, reducing farmers’ dependency on synthetic pesticides, which currently consume nearly 35% of their input expenditures (PARC, 2020).

Integrated crop-livestock systems also play a central role in enhancing sustainability, especially in Pakistan, where 40% of farmers rely on subsistence agriculture (BS, 2023). Livestock contributes approximately 60.5% to the agricultural GDP, yet issues like overgrazing and methane emissions pose environmental concerns. Solutions such as rotational grazing, improved pasture management, and sustainable manure handling can reduce ecological pressures while maintaining productivity.

Conservation agriculture offers another critical pathway. Key practices like reduced tillage have already shown success. Punjab’s Zero Tillage Wheat program, for instance, has resulted in a 20% increase in wheat yields and a 30% reduction in water usage, demonstrating the potential for scalability (CIMMYT, 2019). Similarly, cover cropping can prevent erosion, enhance organic matter, and suppress weeds, yet it remains underutilized due to limited awareness and policy incentives.

Organic farming is an emerging sector in Pakistan, with about 0.5 million hectares under organic cultivation (IFOAM, 2022). While the sector holds immense export potential, particularly for high-demand crops like basmati rice and mangoes, growth is hampered by weak regulatory frameworks and the lack of standardized certification. The Pakistan Organic Agriculture Policy (2021) seeks to address these barriers and facilitate access to global organic markets.

Finally, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is essential for adapting to increasing climate variability. The Ministry of Climate Change (2023) advocates the cultivation of drought-resistant crops such as millets and sorghum, alongside precision irrigation systems. These strategies are vital as 70% of Pakistan’s irrigation depends on rapidly depleting groundwater reserves (World Bank, 2022), threatening the country’s food and water security.

Economic Resilience in Agriculture

Economic resilience in agriculture refers to the sector’s capacity to withstand shocks such as extreme weather events, price fluctuations, and market disruptions, while maintaining long-term productivity and sustainability. For a country like Pakistan, where agriculture remains a vital source of employment and food security, building economic resilience is critical to protecting rural livelihoods and national development goals.

One key strategy to enhance resilience is the diversification of income sources. Encouraging farmers to engage in supplementary activities such as agro-tourism, beekeeping, fisheries, and kitchen gardening helps reduce over-reliance on staple crops like wheat and rice. These alternative income streams not only improve household financial stability but also promote sustainable land use. Government support through the Ehsaas Program, which provides targeted cash transfers to smallholder farmers, further helps mitigate the impact of income shocks from crop failures or price crashes (GOP, 2023).

Improved market access and price stability are also essential. The rollout of electronic marketplaces or e-Mandi systems increases price transparency and empowers farmers with real-time data, reducing exploitation by middlemen (Punjab Agriculture Department, 2022). Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for key crops such as wheat and rice offer income stability during volatile market conditions.

Access to finance and insurance significantly enhances the ability of farmers to recover from climate or market shocks. The State Bank of Pakistan’s Agro-Loan Scheme provides low-interest credit tailored to smallholders, while index-based crop insurance schemes are emerging as a cost-effective tool for protecting against weather-related risks (Karachi University, 2021).

Investments in research and innovation further bolster resilience. The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) is actively developing high-yield and climate-resilient seed varieties. Simultaneously, the introduction of digital agriculture tools, such as drone surveillance and AI-driven pest control, being piloted in Punjab, signals a forward-looking shift towards adaptive, data-informed farming systems.

Challenges & Policy Recommendations

Pakistan’s agricultural sector, while central to its economy and food security, faces several pressing environmental and structural challenges that threaten long-term sustainability. Deforestation and land degradation are among the most critical concerns. Rapid deforestation, driven by urban expansion, fuelwood use, and agricultural encroachment, has significantly reduced forest cover, contributing to soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and declining water cycles. To address this, there is an urgent need to strengthen the enforcement of existing forest conservation laws and support community-based reforestation initiatives. Integrating agroforestry and incentivizing tree planting on farms can also restore degraded lands while enhancing rural livelihoods.

Water scarcity presents another major constraint, as Pakistan is one of the most water-stressed countries globally. Over 90% of its freshwater is used in agriculture, much of it inefficiently through outdated flood irrigation systems. Expanding subsidies for water-efficient technologies such as drip and sprinkler irrigation is essential to promote water conservation. Additionally, investing in rainwater harvesting infrastructure and promoting the use of farm-level water reservoirs can help rural communities cope with erratic rainfall and droughts, exacerbated by climate change.

Farmer education and training also require significant improvement. Many farmers lack access to updated knowledge about sustainable practices, soil health, pest management, and climate-smart techniques. Increasing the reach and quality of agricultural extension services is critical for bridging this knowledge gap. Mobile-based advisory platforms, field demonstrations, and farmer field schools can effectively deliver practical training tailored to local needs.

To overcome these challenges, policy interventions must be holistic, participatory, and science based. Collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, civil society, and farming communities is vital. With the right mix of policy support, capacity building, and resource allocation, Pakistan can transition toward a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agricultural system that benefits both people and the planet.

Conclusion

Agricultural sustainability and economic resilience are not only interlinked but also imperative for Pakistan’s food security, rural livelihoods, and environmental preservation. As climate change increases and natural resources become scarcer, the country must transition from conventional, resource-intensive practices to more sustainable, inclusive, and adaptive systems. Integrated approaches such as agroforestry, conservation agriculture, organic farming, and climate-smart technologies have shown tangible success in improving productivity while preserving ecological integrity. Simultaneously, fostering economic resilience through diversified income streams, improved market access, financial inclusion, and agricultural innovation ensures that farmers can withstand external shocks and adapt effectively.

However, achieving these outcomes requires robust policy support, institutional coordination, and community engagement. Strengthening forest protection laws, promoting efficient irrigation systems, and enhancing farmer education through well-funded extension services are critical policy priorities. Public-private partnerships, digital tools, and research-driven solutions must be leveraged to scale sustainable practices across Pakistan’s diverse agroecological zones.

In sum, a paradigm shift toward sustainable agriculture is not merely an environmental choice—it is a national imperative. With strategic planning, inclusive policymaking, and sustained investment, Pakistan can build a resilient agricultural sector that nourishes its people, protects its environment, and contributes to long-term economic stability and growth.

References: FAO; World Bank; GOP; PARC; Karachi University; Punjab Agriculture Department; IFOAM; CIMMYT; PBS; KPK Government

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

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