In a groundbreaking partnership aimed at transforming Pakistan’s agricultural landscape, the country has teamed up with South Korea to produce high-quality seed potatoes using cutting-edge aeroponics technology. This soil-free cultivation method, which grows plants in air or mist environments, promises to increase potato yields significantly while using minimal water—a key advantage in sustainable farming practices.
Seed Potato Production and Aeroponics Complex at NARC
The Seed Potato Production and Aeroponics Complex, launched on March 24, 2025, is a joint initiative between South Korea’s Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).
Located at the National Agricultural Research Centre in Islamabad, the complex aims to revolutionize seed potato production using advanced aeroponics technology. The project will enhance seed potato quality and availability, reduce production costs, and improve yields. It also focuses on improving efficiency, minimizing post-harvest losses, and generating employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.
The infrastructure of the project is designed to support large-scale seed potato production. Key components include:
- Four aeroponic greenhouses
- 35 screen houses
- A cold storage facility
- A 100-kW solar power system
These facilities will help Pakistan meet its goal of producing 160,000 tonnes (30% of Pakistan’s total demand) of certified seed potatoes annually. The project’s success could mark a major shift towards more sustainable farming practices in Pakistan.
A Game-Changer for Potato Production
Pakistan’s agricultural sector is a vital pillar of its economy, contributing around 23% of the GDP and employing 37.4% of the national workforce. Among its numerous crops, potatoes play a critical role, with Pakistan ranking ninth globally in potato output. However, despite cultivating potatoes on approximately 850,000 acres, Pakistan has struggled with the poor quality of locally produced seed potatoes. As a result, the country imports between 6,000 and 12,000 tonnes of seed potatoes annually, which costs a staggering 8 billion rupees every year.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during the inauguration of the Seed Potato Production and Aeroponics Complex at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) on Monday, underscored the significance of the project. “The best potato seeds will now be produced in Pakistan with the cooperation of South Korea,” Sharif remarked. He stressed that the availability of high-quality seeds, alongside better fertilizers and pesticides, would revolutionize the country’s agricultural output and enhance exports.
Prime Minister Sharif also inaugurated the National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB) at NARC, a facility dedicated to agricultural research across plants, animals, and microbes. NIGAB’s cutting-edge labs aim to improve crop resilience, tackle diseases, and address the challenges posed by climate change. This biotechnology complex includes 28 state-of-the-art labs, each focused on a specific area, along with glasshouses and containment facilities. Through traditional genetic engineering, NIGAB has developed GMOs of wheat, groundnut, potato, and tomato designed to withstand diseases, drought, and salinity. These genetically modified crops are awaiting approval for commercial use at the farm level.
The Science behind Aeroponics
Aeroponics, the method being adopted for this project, enables the growth of potato plants without soil. Instead, plants are suspended in air and nourished by nutrient-rich mist. Unlike traditional farming, where a single potato plant yields just five tubers, aeroponics can produce between 50 to 60 tubers per plant, according to PARC Chairman Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali. “These modern technologies will not only help in meeting the local consumption of seed potatoes but will also reduce the heavy import bill,” he said.
This leap in productivity will help meet Pakistan’s growing demand for high-quality seed potatoes while drastically reducing its reliance on costly imports.
The project, a joint initiative between the Korea Partnership for Innovation in Agriculture (KOPIA) and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), will see the construction of four aeroponic greenhouses and 35 screen houses. Additionally, a cold storage facility and a 100-kW solar power system will be set up to ensure the efficient production of certified seed potatoes. The goal is to produce 160,000 tonnes of certified seed potatoes annually by the fifth year of the project.
Economic and Agricultural Benefits
The shift to aeroponics is expected to lower the cost of potato production and improve yield quality, providing farmers with access to high-quality seed potatoes at affordable prices. This not only reduces the financial strain of importing seeds but also boosts Pakistan’s agricultural export potential.
In addition to reducing the country’s dependence on imports, the aeroponics technology will enable Pakistan to become self-sufficient in seed potato production, contributing to long-term food security and economic growth.
KOPIA is run by the Rural Development Administration (RDA), a national R&D institution in Korea that promotes innovation in agricultural technology. RDA Korea Administrator Kwan Jae-han, who attended the ceremony in Islamabad, said the goal of the partnership project was to increase the productivity of Pakistan’s agricultural sector, adding that the collaboration with NARC in potato seeds was an “important milestone.”
Pakistan-South Korea partnership
The partnership between Pakistan and South Korea isn’t limited to seed potatoes alone. South Korea has been involved in several other agricultural technology transfer projects, including fodder production and chili drying, as well as the improvement of artificial insemination techniques in livestock. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to enhance agricultural productivity in Pakistan while promoting sustainable farming solutions.
In May 2023, the Pakistani government declared the creation of a disease-free seed potato self-sufficiency system as a national priority. Following this, Pakistan and South Korea committed to a joint investment of $2.5 million each over the next five years (2023-2028) to develop the disease-free seed potato production complex.
Key Highlights of the Partnership
- Aeroponics technology will produce high-quality seed potatoes without soil, improving yields significantly.
- Annual potato seed import costs Pakistan 8 billion rupees, with a dependency on imports of 6,000-12,000 tonnes.
- The project will construct four aeroponic greenhouses and 35 screen houses, alongside a cold storage facility and solar power system.
- The partnership aims to produce 160,000 tonnes of certified seed potatoes annually by the fifth year.
- The initiative will lower potato production costs and provide affordable, high-quality seed potatoes to farmers, reducing reliance on imports.
- Training programs have been launched to equip local farmers with the necessary skills for aeroponic potato farming.
- Collaboration between KOPIA and PARC is central to this project, focusing on sustainability, efficiency, and reducing post-harvest losses.
By embracing aeroponics, Pakistan is not only addressing its immediate agricultural challenges but also paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable farming future.
Long-Term Benefits for Pakistani Farmers
As part of the initiative, a three-day training program on aeroponic seed potato production was held in January 2025 at NARC, where local farmers, agricultural extension services, and seed companies learned how to implement and benefit from the new technology.
With this collaboration, Pakistan aims to drastically reduce its potato seed import bill, which has been a major economic burden. As Dr. Cho Gyoung-Rae, Director of KOPIA-Pakistan, explained, the aeroponics technology is a crucial step towards self-sufficiency. By introducing advanced agricultural techniques and promoting local production, the project is expected to transform Pakistan’s potato industry, making it more efficient and sustainable.
This partnership stands as a model of international cooperation in agriculture, with long-lasting benefits for Pakistan’s economy, farmers, and food security. The innovative use of aeroponics technology could very well be the key to unlocking Pakistan’s agricultural potential and enhancing its competitiveness on the global stage.