Strengthening Advisory Services through Staff Capacity Building
SAWIE’s Training for Bank Alfalah
As part of its ongoing partnership with Bank Alfalah, SAWIE conducted a focused training session for bank staff to enhance their understanding of digital farm advisory services and climate-smart agriculture. This training was a core component of the pilot initiative aimed at supporting smallholder farmers through tailored, tech-enabled solutions.
While Bank Alfalah Relationship Managers (RMs) are not expected to deliver agronomic advice directly, their role in enabling trust and communication between the farmers and SAWIE’s advisory services is critical. The training was designed to equip staff with the necessary knowledge to support farmers more effectively and strengthen the link between financial institutions and sustainable agricultural practices.
Objectives of the Training
Held on June 1st at Bank Alfalah’s Lahore office, the session aimed to:
- Familiarize RMs with the SAWIE App, including its key features such as crop and field mapping, the knowledge center, and satellite-based updates.
- Introduce the principles of climate-smart agriculture and its relevance to Pakistan’s farming context.
- Highlight the role of digital advisory in improving yield outcomes, optimizing input use, and reducing climate risks.
- Emphasize the importance of relationship building and consistent communication with farmers.
By understanding the value and potential of digital advisory, staff were better positioned to communicate these benefits to their clients and support adoption at the grassroots level.
From Training to Implementation
Following the session, Bank staff played an active role in farmer outreach. Many participated in field visits and helped facilitate farmer engagement, data collection, and field mapping activities. Their involvement proved especially valuable in regions where trust in external advisory services was initially low.
This engagement reinforced a key lesson from the pilot: digital platforms alone cannot drive change. Human interaction remains essential in encouraging farmers to try new tools and approaches, particularly in rural areas where technological adoption is still emerging.
Building for the Long Term
The training also identified a need for more structured follow-up between SAWIE teams and Bank Alfalah branches. Establishing a regular engagement mechanism, such as periodic review meetings and joint field planning, would help sustain momentum beyond the pilot phase.
As a result of this initial training, a foundation has been laid not only for improved farmer support but also for a more integrated approach to climate resilience and financial inclusion. Through continued collaboration and capacity-building efforts, SAWIE and Bank Alfalah are well-positioned to scale up digital farm advisory services and unlock new opportunities for both farmers and the financial sector.
