Saudi Arabia has given Pakistan $500 million for a high efficiency irrigation system. LIMS-CoE has been established under the Director General Strategic Projects of Pakistan Army.
Pakistan is facing a serious challenge of low agricultural productivity, food insecurity, and food imports. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Pakistan ranks 88th out of 107 countries in the Global Hunger Index, and imports about 40 percent of its food needs. According to the world food programme, 36.9 percent of Pakistanis are food insecure and 18.3 percent of them are facing severe food crisis. To address this challenge, the government of Pakistan has launched a new strategy called the Land Information and Management System–Centre of Excellence (LIMS-CoE).
The center will work in collaboration with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and China on various agriculture projects to enhance Pakistan’s foods and exports. Saudi Arabia has already given Pakistan $500 million for a high efficiency irrigation system. LIMS-CoE has been established under the Director General Strategic Projects of Pakistan Army.
The LIMS approach is a project by the government of Pakistan and the Pakistan Army to improve farming. It aims to improve unproductive land and to reduce the need to import food, increase exports, and provide enough food for Pakistan’s growing population.
The government wants to make sure there is enough food for everyone in the country. The LIMS approach uses advanced technology and sustainable practices to make farming better based on the land’s potential.
To do this, they need accurate and up-to-date information about the land. This helps leaders and farmers make smart decisions. They can choose the right land for farming, improve how they water their crops, and use better farming methods. The LIMS approach also uses technology to keep track of things like soil quality, crops, weather, water, and pests.
The Prime Minister and the Chief of Army Staff are leading this project and focusing on farming to help the country’s economy. The LIMS approach will help farmers to produce more food. Farmers will receive support and training, and their hard work will be acknowledged.
The LIMS approach will also make it easier for farmers to sell their products directly and get fair prices, without having to go through middlemen. This project will create jobs, increase incomes, reduce poverty, improve health and nutrition, protect the environment, address climate change, and promote collaboration with other regions.
LIMS is also a digital platform that aims to transform how farming is done in Pakistan, with a view to optimizing agricultural output for improving domestic food security and creating exportable surplus for the Gulf States and China.
LIMS uses satellite imagery, drones, sensors, and artificial intelligence to collect, analyze, and disseminate data on land use, soil quality, crop health, water availability, weather patterns, pest infestation, and market prices. LIMS also provides farmers with access to credit, insurance, inputs, extension services, and e-commerce platforms.
LIMS is a step in the right direction because it addresses some of the key challenges that have hampered Pakistan’s agricultural growth and development. For instance, LIMS will help to overcome the lack of reliable and timely data on land and crop conditions, which has been a major obstacle for evidence-based decision making and planning.
LIMS strategy will also help to improve the efficiency and transparency of land administration and management, which has been plagued by corruption, disputes, and encroachments. LIMS will also help to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas, and empower smallholder farmers with access to information, technology, finance, and markets.
LIMS can face challenges that need to be addressed, and a long-term policy will support farmers. Here are some challenges and potential solutions:
Climate impact:
Pakistan is vulnerable to climate change, affecting water resources, crops, and food security. Solutions include investing in climate-resilient farming practices, drought-tolerant crops, efficient irrigation, and renewable energy sources.
Soil erosion:
Pakistan has high soil erosion rates, reducing land quality and crop yields. Implementing sustainable land management practices like soil conservation, agroforestry, and better nutrient management can help combat soil erosion.
Land fragmentation:
Small, fragmented land plots in Pakistan hinder farming efficiency and access to resources and markets. Promoting cooperative farming models and land consolidation schemes can increase farm size and productivity.
Lower crop yields:
Pakistan has one of the lowest crop yields in the world compared to its potential. For wheat, the average yield is 2.8 tons per hectare, while the potential yield is 6.2 tons per hectare. Similarly, for rice, the average yield is 2.5 tons per hectare, while the potential yield is 4.8 tons per hectare, according to FAO.
Despite being the 7th largest global wheat producer, Pakistan ranks 37th in terms of yield. In the past two decades, Pakistan has introduced 123 different wheat varieties, but the yearly increase in yield has only been 1.1 percent.
Considering the standard requirement of 125 kgs of wheat per person per year, Pakistan needs around 31.19 million tons of wheat to meet the dietary needs of its current population. This gap between actual and potential yields is due to farmers not adopting improved seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation systems, and mechanization.
To address this, LIMS strategy now needs to strengthen its agricultural research institutions to develop and distribute high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties and technologies.
The government’s landmark initiative, supported by the Pakistan Army, aims to revolutionize the agriculture sector by promoting modern technology, collaboration between public and private sectors, and benefiting local farmers to alleviate poverty. LIMS will bring over 9 million hectares of waste state land under cultivation to ensure food security, enhance agri-exports and attract foreign investment, benefiting about 6 million farmers.
The government hopes that LIMS strategy will increase crop yields by 30 percent, reduce input costs by 20 percent, and enhance farm incomes by 50 percent. To attract investments of $30 to $50 billion in the next four to five years, the government aims to create a conducive environment for farmers by providing quality seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers.
This transformative approach will not only boost the agricultural industry but also generate job opportunities for four million people. Moreover, ensuring that farmers receive fair prices for their crops is a key aspect of this initiative.
Agricultural experts and farmers warmly welcome the ongoing initiatives to boost the agricultural sector, recognizing the positive impact they will have on farming practices and overall development.