Page 110 - AJWEP-v22i3

Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution. Vol. 22, No. 3 (2025), pp. 104-118.
doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025130096

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Digital and precision farming, emissions trade-offs, and
food crop yields in Pakistan

Agha Amad Nabi , Muhammad Khalid Anser 2,3 , Muhammad Asif , and
4
1
Khalid Zaman *
5
1 Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, Government College University, Hyderabad, Sindh,
Pakistan
2 Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize,
Turkey
3 School of Business, Faculty of Social Sciences, Xi’an International University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
4 Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, Air University, Multan Campus, Pakistan
5 Department of Economics, Faculty of Social and Administrative Sciences, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan
*Corresponding author: Khalid Zaman (khalid.zaman@uoh.edu.pk)

Received: March 30, 2025; 1st revised: May 1, 2025; 2nd revised: May 18, 2025;
Accepted: May 19, 2025; Published online: May 29, 2025

Abstract: Climate change, low productivity, and environmental degradation are jeopardizing Pakistan’s agricultural
sector, whose sustainability and resilience can be potentially improved using agricultural technology (AgriTech).
This study examines the relationship between digital technology, precision farming, methane (CH ) and nitrous
4
oxide (N O) emissions, and Pakistan’s grain crop yields to determine how modern technology impacts ecologically
2
responsible farming. The study used Autoregressive Distributed Lag bounds testing to explore how data analytics,
modern farming technologies, and agricultural value-added (AGRI) affect grain crop yields in the short and long
run. Long- and short-term crop yields were reduced by AGRI. Data analytics could only produce short-term
advantages, but precision agriculture tools and digital technologies assisted in enhancing yields significantly. CH
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and N O emissions were significantly associated with yield growth, suggesting efficiency trade-offs. This study
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found that digital technology is an intensive farming method, resulting in higher yields linked to higher input
consumption and emissions. The technology also enabled precision agriculture to increase productivity with lower
environmental impacts. Taken together, the findings of the current study collectively underline the need to merge
smart farming technologies with environmentally friendly methods to boost Pakistan’s agricultural productivity
and sustainability.
Keywords: AgriTech; Precision farming; Agricultural sustainability; Climate dynamics; Environmental
stewardship; Food security; Pakistan

1. Introduction insecticides, herbicides, and pesticides, has been noted
in an effort to enhance the quantity and quality of
The ever-increasing global population underscores agricultural produce. About two-thirds of the people
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the need to ensure the availability of wholesome in developing countries and fewer than 5% of the
food on every continent to prevent food shortages. A population in industrialized countries are employed in
rise in the use of agrochemicals, such as fertilizers, agriculture, a figure that is decreasing as more nations

Volume 22 Issue 3 (2025) 104 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025130096