HEC: Conference on Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture

Islamabad, February 1, 2024: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik (T.I, S.I, H.I) has emphasised the need for focusing technological needs of small-scale farmers who majorly contribute to food security and export earnings.

The Minister was addressing a conference on ‘Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture’, jointly organised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research at HEC Secretariat on Thursday.

Researchers, agricultural scientists, faculty member and students from agricultural universities participated in the conference, which comprised two technical sessions entitled “Application of AI in Agriculture”, “Application of AI for Food Security” and a panel discussion on “Priorities for Policy, Ownership and Resources of AI in Agriculture and Food Security”.

Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik highlighted the challenges posed by climate change and food security amidst the growing world population. He stated, “integration of Artificial Intelligence in agriculture is not just an option but it is a strategic imperative to address these challenges head-on.” He maintained that accumulation of data and utilising it is of the extreme importance to mark remarkable growth in the agriculture sector, which is the largest industry of Pakistan. He asserted that the academic community has a great role in the development of agriculture in Pakistan and the work of all the universities in this sphere is applicable to the sector.

He affirmed that Artificial Intelligence has a huge contribution to the cause of a sustainable agriculture sector of Pakistan. “Artificial Intelligence is a beacon of hope in transforming the agriculture landscape of Pakistan,” he concluded, assuring that the government is committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies for the advancement of agriculture in the country.

Welcoming the participants, Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed acknowledged the important role of universities in keeping Pakistan considerably away from the hazards of food scarcity. However, he identified administrative issues as a grave challenge in enhancing collaboration among the academia, agriculture sector experts, farmers, and the national entities working on the development of agriculture sector. He stressed the need for consolidated efforts of HEC, Ministry of National Food Security, Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), and other relevant stakeholders.

“Let’s make difference based on real data that may be put together and analysed for informed decision-making,” he underscored.

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed underlined that HEC is encouraging the universities to keep their research focus in line with the impending national challenges. He informed the audience that HEC is heftily spending on development of ICT infrastructure in the higher education institutions across Pakistan. He added that HEC has established two data centres in Lahore and Karachi, while it is committed to employing cloud computing for improved efficiency.

In his remarks, Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum termed the lack of collaboration among the relevant stakeholders, including academia, industry, agriculture scientists, research organisations, and technology experts as the most important challenge to address for effective utilisation of AI. He underlined the need for synergising and coordinating efforts being made to cope up with the contemporary needs of agriculture sector. He emphasised the significance of multi-disciplinary research and applied projects to meet pre-set targets while addressing the challenges facing the sector. “The footprint of solution lies in sitting together,” he concluded.

Sharing recommendations of the conference, Member Research & Innovation HEC, Dr. Bushra Mirza said the speakers emphasised catching up with the latest technology for efficiency; setting up a common platform for data collection; and taking refined steps to align policies with the requirements of Agroecological Zones. She added that the conference highlighted the importance of regulating drone technology, development of practical tools to meet farmers’ needs, forming a consortium of agriculture researchers, and capacity building of students, faculty and researchers connected with the agriculture sector.

Earlier in his keynote address, Adviser Sybrid Private Ltd. Dr. Faud Imran Khan shared an overview of the applications of AI in agriculture. He said AI relies on data and algorithms to make decisions, adding that it is a tool that helps accomplish tasks more efficiently. He underscored the expansive utility of diverse AI technologies, such as Chatbots, Farmers.com, Digital Green, and Kissan GPT, within the realm of agriculture. He shed light on the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, illustrating applications ranging from precision agriculture through weather forecasting utilizing various models for livestock health monitoring and early warning systems. He provided tangible examples of Pakistani startups spearheading advancements in AI, particularly in irrigation optimization, product management, and the integration of autonomous machinery. He emphasized that while AI is not a cure-all, its widespread adoption is imperative for the progress of agriculture. He expressed concern regarding the escalating levels of pesticide usage, stressing the urgent need for the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices.