Engaging Youth for Pakistan's Agricultural Future

Pakistan's agriculture sector is the bedrock of its economy, contributing 22.9% to the national GDP and employing 37.4% of the country’s total labor force (Economic Survey of Pakistan, 2023–24). Yet, despite this critical role, the sector faces a pressing concern: its growing inability to attract and retain young people. For many, agriculture carries the stigma of being an occupation of last resort, marked by high underemployment, low wages, and limited opportunities for professional growth. Young people increasingly associate farming with drudgery, outdated practices, and vulnerability to risks such as climate shocks, market volatility, and land fragmentation. The lack of financial security and modern career prospects pushes rural youth toward urban migration or informal employment, leaving agriculture in the hands of an aging workforce.

This disengagement has far-reaching socio-economic consequences. With fewer young people entering farming, rural communities lose both their labor force and their potential innovators. Productivity stagnates, rural poverty deepens, and the risk of food insecurity grows. At the same time, the disconnect between rural youth and farming erodes social stability, as migration to overcrowded cities leads to unemployment, housing shortages, and rising inequality.

Addressing this challenge requires reimagining agriculture as a modern, technology-driven, and entrepreneurial field. Policies that expand access to credit, land, and training can empower young farmers. Investments in agri-tech, climate-smart practices, and digital tools can reshape agriculture into a sector of innovation and opportunity. Strengthening rural education and vocational training programs will equip youth with the skills needed to run agribusinesses and tap into global value chains. Ultimately, transforming agriculture into a profitable and attractive profession is not only vital for Pakistan’s food security but also for unlocking the economic potential of its largest demographic resource—the youth.

Youth Employment in Agriculture

Existing research consistently shows that both structural and perceptual barriers restrict youth participation in agriculture, especially in countries like Pakistan where the sector is central to livelihoods and food security. Hussain (2023) emphasizes that rural-to-urban migration is accelerating among young people, who increasingly view farming as a “low-status, high-toil” occupation with poor economic returns. This perception not only erodes the sector’s image but also pushes youth to seek alternatives in urban industries or abroad. Supporting this view, a World Bank (2023) study found that more than 65% of rural youth prefer careers in manufacturing, services, or overseas employment, citing agriculture’s lack of income stability and decent working conditions.

Structural constraints compound these negative perceptions. Analyses by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE, 2023) and IFPRI (2022) highlight land fragmentation, weak access to credit, and climate-related risks as systemic barriers that undermine profitability and resilience. These issues prevent agriculture from being seen as a modern or sustainable livelihood option, reinforcing the cycle of disinterest among rural youth.

The economic realities paint an even more troubling picture. Dawn’s Economic Review (2024) and the State Bank of Pakistan (2023) report that agricultural wages are 35–40% lower than in manufacturing and services, creating a strong economic disincentive. Skills are also a major gap: only 18% of rural youth have access to training in modern practices like digital agronomy or post-harvest management (PSLM, 2022–23). Market inefficiencies further depress incomes. According to UNDP (2023), smallholder farmers lose 20–30% of potential earnings due to supply chain bottlenecks, limited cold storage, and exploitation by intermediaries.

These factors converge to produce a steep decline in youth participation in farming, which carries far-reaching consequences. Low profitability and income drive rural poverty and indebtedness, while gender inequality in land ownership restricts opportunities for young women. Skills gaps reduce innovation, and limited mechanization prevents youth from entering high-value markets. Land fragmentation diminishes efficiency, and climate change adds volatility, making farming less predictable and riskier. The result is mass migration to cities, overcrowding, and a growing disconnect between generations, with traditional knowledge and practices gradually eroding.

Literature makes it clear that youth disengagement from agriculture is not a matter of personal preference alone but the outcome of intertwined economic, social, and environmental constraints. Left unaddressed, this trend threatens food security, rural livelihoods, and national economic stability. Future policy responses must therefore tackle both perception and structural barriers, transforming agriculture into a sector that is profitable, resilient, and attractive to the younger generation.

Future Policy Recommendations: A Multi-Pronged Strategy

Revitalizing youth participation in agriculture requires more than piecemeal reforms; it demands an integrated, forward-looking strategy that reshapes how the sector is perceived and practiced. At the heart of this transformation is technology. A "Youth in Agri-Tech" initiative could make modern tools like precision planters, drones, and hydroponic systems accessible through subsidies and financing support. Digital platforms, developed in partnership with telecom and tech firms, would provide real-time market information, weather updates, and virtual extension services, bridging the gap between farmers and knowledge systems. Such interventions not only increase productivity but also make agriculture more appealing to digitally savvy youth.

Land reforms are equally essential. Cooperative farming and land pooling can overcome the challenge of fragmented holdings, enabling young farmers to operate on a scale and compete in markets. Legal frameworks for land leasing would allow youth without ownership rights to access farmland, breaking one of the biggest barriers to entry. Alongside land access, mainstreaming climate-resilient agriculture is critical. Training programs in climate-smart practices like drip irrigation, soil health management, and drought-resistant crops should become central to youth-focused agricultural initiatives. Green youth grants could further empower startups that innovate around climate adaptation, ensuring agriculture’s long-term viability.

Education and skills development must evolve to align with modern agricultural needs. Curricula in vocational and higher education should integrate agribusiness management, digital literacy, and advanced farming practices. Structured apprenticeships with national and global agribusiness corporations would expose youth to practical, market-relevant skills. Young women also require deliberate empowerment through secure access to land, credit, and extension services. Highlighting successful female role models in agri-tech and food processing can help shift cultural norms and encourage broader participation.

Equally important are market reforms. Investments in rural infrastructure such as cold storage, packing houses, and collection centers would reduce post-harvest losses and improve profitability. Direct linkages between youth-led cooperatives and supermarkets, processors, and exporters could ensure better price realization, cutting out exploitative middlemen.

Finally, the future of agriculture lies in agripreneurship. By rebranding farming as a form of entrepreneurship, young people can be encouraged to explore high-value ventures. This includes developing e-agri platforms for digital marketplaces, vertical and urban farming models tailored for cities, and agri-fintech solutions that provide microcredit, digital payments, and crop insurance. These innovations not only promise profitability but also resonate with the entrepreneurial aspirations of the younger generation, turning agriculture into a viable and attractive career path.

Conclusion

The future of Pakistan’s agriculture depends on its ability to re-engage its youth. Without their energy, innovation, and entrepreneurial drive, the sector risks falling further behind in productivity, sustainability, and global competitiveness. What emerges from the evidence is clear: disengagement is not the result of indifference but of systemic barriers that make farming appear unprofitable, insecure, and outdated. Tackling these barriers requires a deliberate, multi-pronged approach that addresses access to land, finance, technology, and markets while reshaping the perception of farming itself.

Youth must see agriculture not as a last resort but as a pathway to prosperity, innovation, and leadership. By aligning policies with the aspirations of a digitally connected and climate-conscious generation, Pakistan can reposition farming as agripreneurship, where technology, sustainability, and business opportunities intersect. Empowering young women, bridging skills gaps, and investing in rural infrastructure will further ensure that this transformation is broad-based and inclusive.

If policymakers act decisively, agriculture can evolve into a vibrant sector that secures livelihoods, ensures food security, and stabilizes rural communities. The choice is stark: continue with business as usual and risk deeper crises or embrace youth as partners in cultivating the future of Pakistan’s economy and society.

References: FAO; Hussain; IFPRI; PBS; Government of Pakistan; SBP; UNDP; World Bank; PIDE; PSLM

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan and can be reached at raheela0012@gmail.com

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