QUETTA:study titled Pakistan: Climate-smart technologies for horticulture and livestock was launched on Friday in Quetta. Developed by Centre for Water Informatics and Technology LUMS for Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (GRASP), a project funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC). The report assesses the state of climate-smart technology for horticulture and livestock in Balochistan and Sindh. Attended by officials from the Sindh livestock department, and key stakeholders from the Agriculture and Horticulture Sector, the launch brought together the public and private sector representatives.
Pakistan is among the top 10 countries most affected by climate catastrophes such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and earthquakes. This is due mainly to the country’s geography, reliance on glaciers as a natural regulator of regional water supplies, and heavy dependence on agriculture for livelihoods and food security. The agricultural sector plays a central role in the Pakistani economy, and farmers need climate-smart technologies to increase agricultural productivity and incomes, adapt and build resilience to climate change, and reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions.
A wide range of climate smart technologies exist in Pakistan which include both commercially available technologies and those developed locally. The report finds however, that their uptake is constrained and so limiting climate resilience. It provides an inventory of available technologies and their suppliers in Pakistan. With a particular focus on Balochistan and Sindh’s horticulture and livestock sectors, the report outlines a series of recommendation to improve climate technology uptake and enable more regenerative agriculture.
It offers a menu of options to policymakers and technical assistance activities under the GRASP project to support innovation, commercialization, and the adoption of climate-smart technologies in these two value chains. These include the establishment of farmer service centres, developing rental models to improve affordability, demonstration plots, finance provision for eco-entrepreneurs, increased farmer collective marketing, support to research in climate smart cropping practices. At the policy level, the report recommends the reform of policies that support water intensive crops and energy subsidies that exacerbate water extraction.
The Chief Guest, Abdullah Khan, Secretary Implementation Planning and Development Department (P and DD), Government of Balochistan appreciated the ITC team and LUMS for conducting a through study on market assessment of climate technologies. He said that it is never too late to realize the gravity of the situation and adapt accordingly. Executive Director Centre for WIT LUMS Abubakar Muhammad said that LUMS is looking forward to work closely with public and private sector in Balochistan to address the challenges of water and environment. GRASP Provincial Lead Jahanzeb Khan briefed the participants on the climate smart interventions planned under GRASP project in Balochistan and thanked all the stakeholders for their participation.