Agri-business Hub: Agricultural Development through Architectural Solutions

Abstract

In the context of Pakistan, the issues related to agriculture are much rooted, ranging from lack of skills, knowledge, and awareness about modern farming methods, techniques, and technology in farmers to the exploitation of small farmers at the hands of middleman. The aim of this thesis is to tackle these social issues related to agriculture through architecture by creating spaces in a rural context, dedicated to programs that will help farmers and labor related to agriculture excel in their respective fields. This thesis proposes a prototype for an Agri-business hub in the rural surroundings of the city Okara because of the abundance of agricultural activity there. Such a building ought to have spaces for agricultural activities beyond farming and will directly fall into the narratives of the daily lives of people living around it. A series of spaces with programs responding to the needs of the community, providing socio-economic opportunities for the local farmers and learning opportunities for the labor and other professions related to agriculture has the potential to become the social magnet in the village. Hence, the project encompasses a market space and a training institute for farmers integrated with programs that directly weave into the lives of the members of the community.