Pakistan advances smart agriculture as NPO, APO lunch int’l workshop

ISLAMABAD, Nov 2 (APP): Pakistan has taken another step towards modernizing its agricultural sector as the National Productivity Organization (NPO), in collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), Japan on Monday inaugurated a five-day international workshop on “Innovative Value-added Products in the Agriculture Sector (Smart Agriculture)”.

The workshop, being held from 2–6 November 2026, brings together international delegates, agricultural experts and Pakistani professionals to advance smart agriculture, promote sustainable farming practices and strengthen productivity through innovation, technology and value addition.

The opening ceremony was attended by Nadeem Ur Rehman, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Industries and Production, as chief guest.

A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the APO National Productivity Awards 2025, recognizing outstanding achievements and contributions towards productivity improvement, innovation, operational excellence and the promotion of a productivity-driven culture in Pakistan.

Nadeem Ur Rehman emphasized that agriculture remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, contributing significantly to food security, employment generation, rural development and the provision of essential raw materials to the industrial sector.

He underscored the importance of transforming traditional agricultural practices through sustainable soil management, efficient resource utilization, modern technologies and value addition to enhance productivity and strengthen national economic competitiveness.

He highlighted that agricultural modernization and productivity enhancement are essential to achieving the country’s economic transformation objectives under URAAN Pakistan and the 5Es National Economic Transformation Plan.

He appreciated the continued cooperation and technical support of the Asian Productivity Organization in promoting productivity, innovation and institutional capacity development across its member economies.

Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry, CEO, NPO Pakistan, reaffirmed NPO’s commitment to advancing productivity, innovation and competitiveness across key sectors of Pakistan’s economy.

He said that agricultural productivity holds equal importance to industrial productivity, considering the sector’s critical contribution to food security, employment and industrial raw material supply.

He emphasized that the adoption of smart agriculture, sustainable soil management, resource-efficient production methods and innovative value-added solutions can significantly improve agricultural performance, strengthen agriculture–industry linkages and create new opportunities for agro-based enterprises.

He also encouraged participants to benefit from international expertise, exchange practical experiences and translate the knowledge gained during the workshop into tangible and measurable improvements in agricultural productivity and sustainability.

The five-day international workshop will focus on sustainable soil management, resource-efficient agricultural practices, technology- and data-driven farming solutions, improved agricultural product quality and innovative approaches to value addition.

The programme will provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, technical learning and the exchange of international best practices among experts and participants from APO member economies.

By promoting smart agricultural technologies and innovative value-added products, the initiative seeks to support farmers, agricultural enterprises and relevant stakeholders in improving resource utilization, reducing production inefficiencies, enhancing product quality and creating greater economic value across the agricultural value chain.

The inauguration of the workshop and the presentation of the APO National Productivity Awards 2025 reflect the shared commitment of NPO and APO to strengthening the national productivity movement, fostering international cooperation and supporting Pakistan’s transition towards a modern, sustainable and globally competitive agricultural economy.