Boosting agriculture yield: Nudging techniques discussed

The conference was organised by Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agiculture in collaboration with University of California Davis

RAWALPINDI:

Speakers of a two-day conference have called for resorting to nudging techniques to boost agriculture productivity.

The conference was organised by Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agiculture (PMAS-AAUR) in collaboration with University of California Davis, sponsored by Agriculture Innovation Programme Pakistan (AIPP) aimed at raising public awareness about agriculture productivity and higher yield.

PMAS-AAUR Vice Chancellor Prof Rai Niaz Ahmad said the conference aimed at exploring agriculture productivity improvement through nudging, a technique that influences people towards desirable behavior.

Dr Mark Bell from University of California outlined some areas in which nudging can be used as a potential vehicle for agriculture extension.

During the first session on nudging, CIMMYT country representative Dr Imtiaz Ahmed highlighted the importance of academic reforms needed to signify the effects of nudging in agriculture while Dean Social Sciences Dr Abdul Saboor stressed the importance of utilizing nudging as a revolutionary and free policy tool and highlighted some potential areas where nudging could help raise agriculture productivity.

The second session was chaired by Managing Director Utility Stores Gulzar Hussain Shah who spoke on ‘nudging through government policy reforms’.

Executive Director, Lok Sanjh Foundatio, Shahid Zia argued with active participation of the farmers, techniques such as nudging could be used for sustainable development of the agricultural sector.

Dr Bell being an expert in areas of research extension linkages, adult education and use of ICT, highlighted the emerging concept of nudging in agriculture sector and identified skills required to craft effective nudging strategies and reforms. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2016.