Assessing a country’s agricultural innovation system (AIS) can advise decision makers to take actions to accelerate innovation and stimulate agricultural transformation. Led by FAO, a capacity need assessment workshop of agricultural innovation in Pakistan was recently conducted, identifying key root problems, and developing a vision for low-cost agricultural machinery Super Seeder.  

The key stakeholders from different organizations including Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), National Agriculture Research Center (NARC), Provincial Extension and Research departments of Punjab and KP, Framers, private sector companies, faculty staff of agricultural engineering, Field Wing of Punjab, Agriculture Engineering Department, KP, Agriculture Mechanization Research Institute (AMRI),  Ayub Agriculture Research Institute and financial institutions  of low cost agriculture machinery value chain were invited to Identify the core capacity-related problem(s) of the AIS and conduct a deep analysis of drivers/causes and effects of those problems.

The workshop was designed for three days (July 19 – 21, 2023) under the supervision of Per Rudebjer, International Capacity Development Specialist, FAO. The workshop ended with development of shared vision for change and Outcome Mapping framework; and capacity development strategy and action plan of three selected organizations for strengthening the AIS systems and organizational, and policy and enabling environment levels. The way forward for the capacity development phase along with detailed work plan also designed for the period August 2023 to March 2024. 

The project in Pakistan is part the global, five-year TAP-AIS project coordinated by FAO’s Office of Innovation and funded by the European Union via its initiative on Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA). The project aims to strengthen functional capacities, or ‘soft skills’, of national AIS with focus on climate-relevant, productive, and sustainable transformation of agriculture and food systems. 

The event was appreciated by all stakeholders who acknowledged FAO’s efforts towards capacity development to strengthen AIS in Pakistan.