Call for promoting digital agriculture,cluster farming

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2026) Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional food Committee Convener Shahid Imran on Sunday stressed the need to promote digital agriculture, provide farmers with timely information, and adopt cluster farming models to improve productivity in the agriculture sector.

He was speaking to a delegation led by Usman Akhtar, Chief Executive Officer of Murasaki Japanese Languages school.

Referring to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Shahid Imran said that more than 80 per cent of farmers in Punjab are currently facing the adverse impacts of climate change.

He noted that rainfall patterns in central Punjab had become increasingly unstable, with alternating years of excessive rainfall and drought conditions.

He said unexpected rains in April had affected wheat harvesting, while heavy rains in July and August posed risks to cotton and rice crops.

Describing the situation as a “climate shift,” he said the traditional monsoon cycle had changed, with rainfall now occurring in shorter but more intense spells.

He added that changing temperature and rainfall patterns were also altering cropping patterns, with water-intensive crops such as sugarcane, rice and maize increasing, while cotton cultivation was declining. He claimed climate change had caused losses worth billions of rupees to farmers.

Shahid Imran said digital agriculture, timely information sharing, and cluster farming could help improve efficiency and output in the sector. He also called for better water management, improved storage infrastructure, and increased investment in research and development to mitigate climate risks.

He further said rising temperatures were shortening crop growth cycles, resulting in a 9 to 30 per cent decline in wheat production.

On the occasion, Usman Akhtar said rainfall patterns had become irregular, heat intensity had increased, and winters were becoming shorter and less severe, placing additional pressure on farmers and reducing overall crop yields.