Multan, September 23, 2019 (PPI-OT): As population continues to grow, greater demand is placed on agriculture to increase productivity. Peace and security are tied to food security and all efforts must be made to ensure the productivity and sustainability of food production especially among the smaller more vulnerable farmers. Based on the floods and droughts experienced in recent years, it is evident that a strong commitment to enhancing the resilience of the agriculture sector is urgently needed. This will require increased investment, improved governance, and considerable work on policies and strategies at the national and sub-national levels.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative in Pakistan, Ms. Mina Dowlatchahi concluded a two -day visit to Multan and Muzaffargarh to visit officials and communities in the context of the project Building Disaster Resilience in Pakistan. During the visit she met with local farmer communities and key government stakeholders to take stock on FAO’s assistance to help build resilience for small-holder farmers in three districts of Punjab including; Muzaffargarh, Jhang, Rajanpur.
“The project has gone a long way to help identify ways of strengthening the Government of Punjab up to the Tehsil level in working towards achieving small-holder men and women farmers’ resilience by adopting climate-smart resilient practices and promoting inclusive and efficient agriculture and food systems for zero-hunger and modernization of the agriculture practices. The project is working with women and disabled persons to ensure that no one is left behind,” said Mina Dowlatchahi, FAO Representative in Pakistan.
The Building Disaster Resilience in Pakistan project has significantly contributed to the development of key strategic and policy documents including Punjab Agro-ecological zones, district agriculture operational plans and climate smart agriculture practices. The project has also provided innovative agriculture practices such as locally produced cold storage made out of clay and cooking stoves with low smoke emission and fuel-wood use.
The project activities also pave the way to plan for the recently signed project agreement with the financial support from the Green Climate Fund. The GCF funded project ‘Transforming the Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Climate-Smart Water Management’ will support 1.3 million climate-vulnerable farmers along Pakistan’s Indus River Basin with Climate Smart Agriculture and Water management in Punjab and Sindh. In Punjab the project will work in 5 districts including; Multan, Lodhran, Khanewal, DG Khan, Muzaffargarh.
For more information, contact:
National Information Officer
United Nations Information Centre (UNIC)
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8355720
Cell: +92-300-8553790
Email: ishrat.rizvi@unic.org