Impact Assessment of the ICT Enabled Program on Women's Empowerment in Agricultural Productivity

Abstract

Agriculture constitutes a vital component of Pakistan’s economy, accounting for approximately 23.5% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite its substantial economic contribution, the agricultural sector is confronted with persistent productivity constraints. In response to climate variability and the escalating demands of a growing population, the adoption of modern agricultural technologies has emerged as a critical strategy for enhancing productivity, ensuring national food security, and promoting efficient utilization of natural resources. Mobile technology has become an essential tool for the spread of agricultural information, farmer advisory services, and market linkages. The Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing are modern agricultural technologies that play an important role in crop monitoring, planning, and decision-making in Pakistan. Daharki is confronted by acute socio-economic issues such as child malnutrition, restricted growth, and food insecurity due to the underlying deprivation because of poverty and scant livelihood options. The current study utilizes both mobile technology and modern agricultural technologies to improve the productivity of the farmers at Daharki, Ghotki. The study also aims to encourage female farmers to adopt sustainable agriculture practices, such as crop rotation, organic farming, and integrated pest management, to reduce the environmental impact of food production and implement strategies to reduce food loss and waste at all stages of the supply chain, from production to consumption. This study assesses the performance of the Mari Kissan Dost Program, which has utilized mobile-based agricultural advisory, technology intervention, GIS-based crop monitoring and yield estimation. Alongside remote and on-ground advisories the program also provided subsidies to 100 female farmers through specially designed digital wallet (Agri-Pay). These interventions reduced the input cost and increased the profitability of female farmers. The results show a significant increase in their yield after the adoption of the Mari Kissan Dost Program.