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ABR 2025 26(Entrepreneurial)printed 3 · PDF 13
102 pagesrevision 50940
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farmers, selling them is a problem. Rural
roads are poor, there is little storage
capacity, and middlemen steal margins.
An
agri-business
either
needs
to
eliminate or go around such systemic
issues. This may mean building entire
supply chains, an expensive and time-
consuming task.
Cultural and Structural Resistance
It is not many farmers who are reticent
to take on newer technologies or
methods, especially if they are being
suggested by young city entrants. It is
difficult to convince them to take up
mobile
phone-based
software,
IoT
sensors,
or
even
new
varieties.
Moreover, Pakistani landholding habits
are skewed—land gets fragmented and
passed
on,
so
large-scale
testing
becomes difficult in the lack of consortia
or lease structures.
Policy Instability and Bureaucracy
Pakistani agriculture is highly politicized.
Sudden export bans, import duties, or
price controls can easily undermine
business plans. In addition, licenses or
subsidies access usually involves having
to negotiate with slow and obscure
bureaucracy. Entrepreneurs either need
to know how to navigate this setup,
otherwise they get stuck with red tape.
Value Addition and Agri-Processing
Value addition is the most overlooked
area. Pakistan is exporting low-cost, raw
fruits,
vegetables,
and
pulses
and
importing value-added food, which is
expensive. Entrepreneurs who have the
capacity to start small-scale processing
units like tomato paste factories, fruit
drying houses, or dairy value chains can
increase profit margins while reducing
post-harvest losses.
Organic and High-Value Crops
There are increasing local and overseas
market demands for organic produce,
medicinal herbs, and high-value special
crops such as mushrooms, saffron, and
stevia. The variable climatic conditions
in Pakistan allow most of these to be
cultivated
with
proper
knowledge.
Excellent opportunities exist for export-
oriented startups, among others.
Agri-Tech
Platforms
and
Advisory
Services
Online platforms that connect farmers
to experts, market prices, weather
reports, or suppliers are cheap and
scalable to create. Startups in this sector
make money from premium services,
advertising,
or
data
analytics
of
agricultural input companies. Because
penetration of smartphones is rising, the
sector is ripe for expansion
.
Livestock and Dairy
One of the largest milk producers in the
world, the industry in Pakistan is,
nevertheless,
not
organized
or
commercially
based.
Small
entrepreneurs may seize opportunities
by
launching
breed
improvement
schemes, mobile veterinary units, or
decentralized milk procurement and
production centers.
So, Is It Worth It?
Yes, but with caveats.
Agripreneurship in Pakistan is no get-
3
Enterprise Edition