About Us

PATCO was primarily allowed to be instituted at PARC for transforming the slow technology transfer processes to adequately address one of the important PARC functions i.e. to arrange the expeditious utilization of the research results laid down in PARC Ordinance No. XXXVII of 1981. PARC in its reform agenda presented to Prime Minister of Pakistan on 25^th August 2006 proposed the creation of a company to achieve the goals like;

• Quick outreach to the stakeholders
• Revenue generation for R&D
• Incentives for contributing scientists.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan very kindly approved the proposed action plan vide PM Secretariate u.o. No. 2 (63)/DS (E-II-I)/2006 dated 07-09-2006 to the Secretary, Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock. The same was communicated by the respective ministry to PARC vide its F. No. 8-2/2006-PD (M&E) dated 16^th September 2006.

Implementation of PM’s decisions were taken by PARC in letter & spirit and approval of the Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture & Livestock/President of PARC Board of Governors (BOG) was solicited vide PARC U.O. Note No. 3-3/98 (DAB) dated 19-09-2007. After obtaining the requisite approval, Executive Committee of the BOG in its meeting held on April 04, 2008, passed the resolution by naming the proposed company as PARC Agrotech Company (Private) Limited – (PATCO) and declared the two Nominee Directors by their designation to fulfil the basic requirements of the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). The PARC Agrotech Company (Pvt.) Ltd. was registered under section 32 of the Company Ordinance 1984 (Revised Company Act 2017).

• Inspection of PARC/NARC by Prime Minister Inspection Commission
• (PM’s Office. u.o.No. 1278/M/SPM/19 Dated 3rd April, 2019)
• Order for Submission of PATCO Business Plan along with Revenue, Cost & Profitability Targets for Next 3 Years to the Advisor on Institutional Reforms and Austerity
• (PM’s Office. u.o.No. 2(4)/DS(IA-IV)/20-285 Dated 16 July, 2020)
• Endorsement of PATCO Business Plan by Advisor on Institutional Reform & Austerity and Submitted to Prime Minister
• (PM’s Office. 1/105/20 /IRC Dated 02 March, 2021)
• Approval of PATCO Business Plan by Prime Minister
• (PM’s Office u.o.No. 2(4)/DS(IA-IV)/2020-285 Dated 23-4-2021).

Prosperous and technology-based agriculture through fast track commercialization of R&D knowledge in Pakistan.

Promotion of innovation research & development through the transfer of technologies and knowledge to the stakeholders.

PATCO developed nine different business scenarios in partnership with the scientist, finance & accounts personnel through a rigorous process to present Executive Committee and BOG of PARC for approval and validation in 2014. The detail of the business scenarios:

The principal business of the company is marketing and promotion of research and development (R&D) of products and services developed by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), its research centres and other centres operating under National Agricultural Research System (NARS). PATCO is a unique company having a business model in the agriculture sector to develop technologies/products, pilot scale testing, marketing to the customers and commercial production enhancement through the private sector to meet the high demand of the customers. The key points/steps of PATCO business model are given below:

The Business Model includes

1. Addressing agriculture challenges/issues
2. Knowledge/innovation developed by NARS/PARC
3. Pilot-scale testing by PATCO
4. Marketing by PATCO
5. Demand-based upscaling plan
6. Partner involvement for investment
7. Feasibility based investment plan
8. Commercial production & marketing
9. Establishment of display centre/franchises
10. Developing certified brands for domestic and international markets

The PATCO has various business portfolios including technologies, products, commodities, services and lab testing. The detail is as under:

PATCO started its business activities by borrowing 500,000/- loan amount from PARC during 2008 which was paid back within a year. Technology multiplication and marketing activity started during the initial phase were converged into full fledge in nine business scenarios within 2 to 3 years. The business scenarios were first presented internally to the Executive Committee (EC) of the Council and subsequently to PARC Board of Governance (BOG) for approval.The business scenarios served as a stepping stone for entering into a different kind of partnership among scientists, companies, distributors, traders and other business partners at national and international level.

PATCO went through a long phase of pilot-scale production and marketing of technologies in the second phase from 2012 to 2019. The third phase started from 2020 onward that includes enhancement of seed production, lab testing, capacity building we also engaged with some companies that have international distribution network were also engaged as partners for the promotion of products/brands for national and international markets. The new partnerships development trends between PATCO and the private sector for a diversified range of innovations for sustainable availability of technology to the wide spectrum of end-users.

PATCO has signed more than 25 MoU/Agreements with private sector to achieve the set targets. Project targets are being achieved in letter & spirit with the help of Governement of Pakistan by providing protection to public-private partnership (PPP). The detail of important active PPP agreements is as below:

The following few interventions are specifically mentioned just to high light that at what magnitude they will be influencing productivity enhancement goals as well as potential impacts on import and export scenarios. For instance, disease-free true to type potato tubers production will increase production up to 50% due to the enhanced use of generation one seed as compared to the currently imported seed of 7^th generation. Similarly, quality crop seed availability will increase productivity from 05% to 15% for generating potential surpluses for domestic and export markets. Pakistan currently exporting low-quality honey products of worth USD 15 to 25 in low-end markets. Whereas, the real value of sider honey is around USD 100 in the high-end market which could be achieved if certified quality honey exported in such markets. The company has planned to develop state of the art facility lab and processing facility for targeting high-end markets.