Impact of Bai Salam Financing on Agro-Production Business: A Case Study of Faisalabad District, Pakistan

Agricultural financing is crucial in improving farm productivity and has various forms including institutional and noninstitutional financing. The Wasil Foundation has recently introduced Bai Salam, an Islamic agricultural financing method involving deferred delivery with upfront payment supporting small farmers and serving as a feasible alternative to conventional financing in Muslim-majority regions. This study examines the impact of Bai Salam, extended by the Wasil Foundation, on the wheat production business in the Faisalabad district. Data were collected from 90 Salam borrowers (intervention group) and 100 non-Salam farmers (control group) from the same area with similar/closely related attributes. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to gather information on sociodemographic indicators (age, education, family size, farm size) and farming attributes (cost of land preparation, labor, irrigation, chemicals, wheat output/acre). Descriptive analysis, t-tests, and multiple regression analysis were conducted to analyze the data. The study found significant differences between the intervention and control groups in input purchasing behaviors, output, revenue, and profits per unit area. Regression analysis revealed that Salam borrowers achieved significantly higher wheat output per acre (2.6 mounds) than the control group. Moreover, most control variables (age, education, family size) exhibited the expected relationships with farm productivity. These findings highlight the positive impact of Bai Salam financing and emphasize the importance of promoting it among policymakers and practitioners in the agricultural sector to achieve sustainable development goals in countries such as Pakistan.