Pakistan Unveils Results of First Digital Agricultural Census, Marking Key Step Toward Modernization
Pakistan has released the results of its first-ever comprehensive Digital Agricultural Census, a major milestone aimed at transforming agricultural policy, farmer welfare, and the adoption of modern farming systems across the country. The initiative is expected to play a critical role in shaping the nation’s farming landscape, supporting the government’s vision of building a trillion-dollar economy by 2035 through digital technology.
The census reveals that cultivated land has expanded significantly, increasing from 42.6 million acres to 52.8 million acres, while the number of farming households has grown from 8.3 million to 11.7 million. The total livestock population has reached 251 million. However, the average size of agricultural holdings has decreased from 6.6 acres to 5.1 acres, highlighting the rising prominence of small-scale farmers.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, described the census as a landmark in Pakistan’s agricultural history, underlining the government’s commitment to digitally empowering all sectors of the economy. The successful completion of the census, even in remote and mountainous regions, was made possible through thousands of trained personnel using advanced digital tools to ensure accurate data collection.
In addition to the census, a dedicated Data Portal for Large Agricultural Holdings has been launched to provide timely and comprehensive data to major stakeholders in the agricultural sector. This platform will enable policymakers to make swift, data-driven decisions for the benefit of the industry.
The project was led by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics with support from provincial and district governments, universities, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other development partners. This collaborative effort underscores a vision for inclusive, farmer-focused, and modern agricultural progress in Pakistan.
Officials emphasize that the census is not just a technological achievement, but a promise: to make every field more productive, every farmer more prosperous, and to elevate Pakistani agriculture to international standards.
