The Punjab government has approved the launch of a new initiative titled Agriculture Lab on Wheels, aimed at delivering essential agricultural services directly to farmers at their doorsteps. The programme is designed to strengthen farm-level decision-making by providing immediate access to soil and water testing facilities, a move expected to support improved crop planning and higher productivity across the province.
Under the initiative, mobile agriculture laboratories will be deployed in 15 districts of Punjab. These laboratories will conduct on-the-spot soil and water testing, enabling farmers to better understand nutrient levels, soil fertility, and water quality before making key cultivation decisions. Officials believe that timely access to such information will help farmers optimise input use and reduce avoidable costs, while improving overall crop yields.
The programme is being launched on the directions of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who described the initiative as a step toward ensuring immediate, accurate, and reliable agricultural information for farmers. She noted that mobile testing facilities would play a critical role in improving soil fertility assessment and water quality management across the province, particularly in areas where access to laboratory services has traditionally been limited.
To ensure transparency, efficiency, and coordination, the Punjab government will establish a central control room to monitor the operations of the mobile laboratories. This monitoring system is intended to track performance, ensure timely service delivery, and maintain data integrity across all participating districts.
In addition to the mobile labs, the provincial government has also approved the establishment of 100 container-based farmer facilitation centres in districts across Punjab. These centres will be equipped with data call centres, agriculture officers, and digital tools to provide technical guidance, advisory services, and real-time support to farmers. The initiative reflects a broader push to integrate technology into agricultural extension services and improve farmer access to expert advice.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed confidence that these farmer-focused measures would help achieve a record wheat yield during the current season. She added that the Agriculture Lab on Wheels initiative complements other ongoing programmes such as the Kissan Card scheme and tractor-related projects, underscoring the provincial government’s commitment to strengthening agriculture and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
Meanwhile, in another development aimed at boosting the agricultural sector, the Sindh government has decided to provide seeds to farmers at affordable prices across the province. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Provincial Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar in Karachi.
As part of broader reforms, the Sindh Seed Corporation will also carry out geo-marking of all agricultural lands in the province. This initiative is intended to improve resource management, enhance crop planning, and support data-driven agricultural policies. Together, these measures signal a growing focus by provincial governments on using technology and targeted support to improve productivity and sustainability in Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
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