Farrukh Shahzad
Doctoral Researcher (WP3, Organisational Innovations)
MNS University of Agriculture, Multan (MNSUAM)
Farrukh Shahzad is an agricultural economist and PhD researcher with over fifteen years of experience in agricultural marketing and price policy in Punjab, Pakistan. Trained in agricultural economics at PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, he has served since 2008 as Extra Assistant Director of Agriculture (Economics & Marketing) in the Government of the Punjab, establishing and regulating fruit, vegetable and grain markets, monitoring commodity prices and working directly with farming communities. At SMALLPAK, his doctoral research examines cluster farming as a model for aggregating smallholders to raise productivity, strengthen value addition and improve market access across Punjab.
Research interests
- Cluster farming and smallholder aggregation
- Smallholder value chains and farmers’ access to markets
- Post-harvest losses and the sustainability of fruit & vegetable markets
- Agricultural commodity price analysis and market regulation
- Risk and performance analysis of vegetable production systems
- Agricultural and development economics
- Farmer outreach, field surveys and agricultural extension
Work experience and education
2023 – present
PhD Researcher (research focus: Cluster Farming), SMALLPAK
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
2008 – present
Extra Assistant Director of Agriculture (Economics & Marketing), Jhelum (on study leave)
Government of the Punjab, Pakistan
2009
M.Sc. (Hons.) Agricultural Economics
PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
2005
B.Sc. (Hons) Agricultural Economics
PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Selected publications
Ali, C. I., Khan, Z., Sabri, H. B. A., Shahzad, F., Syed, K., Faiz, M. N., & Raza, M. (2025). Post-harvest losses and business sustainability at F&V markets: A case study of Muzaffargarh. International Journal of Social Sciences Bulletin, 3(12), 1096–1106. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18181447
Shafique, M., Ahmed, U. I., Rizwan, M., Raza, M., Iqbal, A., Tahir, M., Shahzad, F., Nazar, H., & Raza, H. (2025). Impact of Education Expenditure on Economic Growth: A Study of Selected ECO Countries. International Journal of Advanced Social Studies, 5(2), 88–101. https://doi.org/10.70843/ijass.2025.05210
Conference paper
Ullah, S., Iqbal, T., Masood, A., Abd-Ur-Rehman, & Shahzad, F. (2022). Estimating the Risk-adjusted Performance of Major Vegetables in Pakistan. International Conference on Food Security and Value Chain Improvement Under Belt and Road Initiative, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan.