Govt boosts Pakistan–FAO momentum for climate smart agriculture

December 04, 2025 (MLN):  The government advanced its agricultural development agenda as Pakistan and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reaffirmed progress on climate resilience, research-focused growth, and farmer-centered reforms.

In a substantive engagement at FAO Headquarters, Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research  Rana Tanveer Hussain held an hour-long bilateral meeting with FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu, said a press release issued.

The Minister emphasized the challenges emerging from climate change and highlighted opportunities for climate-resilient agricultural productivity, modern water management, improved seeds, cutting-edge infrastructure, and strengthened research and innovation.

Welcoming deeper technical cooperation, he expressed interest in learning from successful international models particularly China’s experience in precision agriculture, intercropping, cooperative farming, GI product development, digital farm management, and food safety standardization.

Dr. Qu reaffirmed FAO’s support for Pakistan’s priorities, emphasizing long-term development research and high-impact, sustainable investments over short-term spending.

The Minister thanked the FAO chief for ongoing support and stressed the need to prioritize transformative initiatives that deliver lasting benefits to farmers and rural communities.

Both sides also discussed best practices in smallholder farming, local food systems, and green rural development, agreeing that targeted research investments can significantly enhance farmer incomes and strengthen national food security.

Pakistan’s agriculture is highly vulnerable to both short-term climatic variability and long-term climate change, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions that rely heavily on a single glacier-fed river system.

Variations in rainfall, temperature, and humidity are expected to reduce crop yields, shorten growing seasons, and exacerbate water scarcity, soil erosion, land degradation, and salinity.

Livestock, a key component of the agricultural sector, is equally threatened by heat stress, drought, floods, and disease outbreaks, putting smallholder farmers who form a significant portion of the rural population at high risk.

Fisheries, though contributing only modestly to GDP, are crucial for the livelihoods of fishing communities and are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and resource overexploitation.

Smallholder farmers, particularly rural women who comprise around 67% of the agricultural workforce, play fundamental roles in crop production, livestock management, and post-harvest activities, yet their contributions remain underutilized in agricultural planning.

According to the FAO Country Programming Framework Pakistan (2023–2027), the agriculture and livestock sectors account for over 45% of Pakistan’s greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the urgent need for climate-smart agricultural practices that can simultaneously enhance productivity and reduce environmental impact.

The report also notes that current constraints, including overregulation and limited private-sector engagement, have hindered investment in the agrifood system, making international cooperation, research-driven innovation, and adoption of best practices essential for sustainable growth and food security.

With targeted investments, research-driven innovation, and strengthened international cooperation, Pakistan aims to build a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive agricultural sector that safeguards livelihoods, empowers rural communities, and ensures long-term food security.

Copyright Mettis Link News