Kickoff Workshop on Resilient Smallholder Farming Systems in Punjab

The first kickoff workshop for the SMALLPAK project, titled “Innovations for Resilient Smallholder Production Systems in Punjab,” was held at Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA), Multan, on 25th March 2026. The kickoff workshop was a one-day event comprising multiple sessions with key stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

The workshop was attended by government officials, agritech companies, large-holder farmers, smallholder farmers, researchers, and university representatives. It was crucial in identifying the socio-economic and technological challenges faced by smallholder farmers. Moreover, it provided an important platform to bring their voices to policymakers and connect them with researchers and agri-tech developers. It also served as an opportunity to understand the challenges and limitations faced by policymakers and agri-tech developers in addressing issues faced by smallholder farmers.

Some other key aspects discussed during the sessions included the impact of climate change and global warming on overall crop yield. Industry leaders shared their insights on coping with changing climatic conditions and emphasized the development of technologies tailored to smallholder farmers to minimize climate-induced losses.

Last but not least, the workshop also shed light on increasing women’s participation in the agriculture sector. Different stakeholders emphasized ways in which women’s involvement in the field could be enhanced.

Overall, the workshop provided a comprehensive platform for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing among diverse stakeholders, laying a strong foundation for developing inclusive, climate-resilient, and technologically adaptive solutions for smallholder farming systems in Punjab.