Challenges

Over 60?percent of the population of Pakistan (130 million of 217 million) resides in rural areas, and the rural population accounts for 80?percent of the country’s poor. Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change, and its economy is heavily reliant on climate-sensitive, irrigated and rain-fed agriculture, as well as livestock, fisheries and forestry activities. Long periods of scanty rainfall and low river flows are interspersed with high-intensity flash flooding. Both the recurring droughts and flash floods result in internal displacement. Furthermore, Pakistan has the lowest forest cover in the region, with 4?percent of land area. There has been a rising trend in annual mean surface temperature and erratic weather patterns since the beginning of 20th?Century. Pakistan currently ranks 23rd among the 167?States facing water scarcity, and water security for both agriculture and domestic use is increasingly critical. As such, the State’s Vision?2025 prioritizes sufficient, reliable, clean and cost-effective access to water and food. To achieve this, Pakistan needs to build an agricultural sector that is resilient to climate change, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Toward a Solution

China has made remarkable achievements in eco-safety and the sustainable development of natural resources. It has also used knowledge and technology to increase resilience and address climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Since September?2019, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has partnered with the Governments of China and Pakistan to exchange knowledge and increase experience-sharing. IFAD Pakistan, IFAD China, and the SSTC Facility Manager for the Asia and Pacific region acted as the focal points. A participatory methodology was used to stimulate discussion and actions. Discussions were held between the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the National Rural Support Programme, from China and Pakistan respectively, to determine the project’s objectives. A seminar on fostering agricultural development cooperation was proposed to discuss climate-resilient agricultural development, deforestation, desertification and water security in rural communities.

The IFAD South-South and triangular cooperation initiative delivered the seminar in 2019. Two implementing partners were identified in late September to reach out to project beneficiaries, including practitioners, academics, policymakers and rural organizations in China and Pakistan. The Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, was responsible for sharing best practices from China, while the IFAD country office in Pakistan took the lead in assessing local needs. In line with SDG?1 on poverty, SDG 2 on hunger, SDG 13 on climate action, SDG 15 on life on land and SDG 17 on partnerships, the specific objectives of the initiative are to showcase the best climate-resilient agricultural practices in Pakistan and China, with a focus on deforestation, desertification and water management. The initiative also sought to establish a network among relevant practitioners, academics, policymakers and rural organizations in Pakistan and China.

Approximately 50?people attended the seminar. In addition to guest speakers from China and Pakistan, participants included senior government officials at the provincial and national levels, experts, researchers, private sector actors, non-governmental organizations, representatives from IFAD-funded projects and implementing partners, university professors, students and representative from the media. A Chinese agricultural diplomat highlighted agricultural cooperation strategies in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Participants from Pakistan increased their knowledge of climate-resilient cropping systems, agricultural technologies and plastic film mulching, which is widely used in China. In turn, participants from China learned about solutions to deforestation and desertification, including community participation, awareness-raising, private sector involvement (in areas such as chilgoza nuts1, medicinal plants and grazing management), proper land-use planning, ecotourism and payments for ecosystem services (REDD+).

In particular, representatives from Pakistan demonstrated interest in learning more about China’s micro irrigation techniques, including rainwater cellars. The two parties had animated discussions on how to adapt the agricultural technology and experience of China to the context of Pakistan. Concrete recommendations and actions were put forward that aimed to replicate tried and tested Chinese agricultural technologies in rural communities in Pakistan.

This one-day seminar was the first step in meeting the initiative’s objectives. In line with national development strategies and the IFAD country strategic opportunities programme for Pakistan, additional actions will be taken to develop projects and policies that foster climate-resilient agricultural development in Pakistan. Throughout this process, IFAD will also seek synergies with other development initiatives, such as the agricultural cooperation initiative in the CPEC, to maximize the interests of smallholder farmers in Pakistan.

In the future, IFAD Pakistan will take the lead in exploring ways to develop pilot programmes, particularly for the technologies shared during the seminar. It will also work on strengthening and promoting South- South cooperation through both formal and informal interactions, including exposure visits and exchanges for expert practitioners, researchers, students and private sector actors. Technical trainings will be piloted in both countries to support investment. Upon completion of the pilot programmes, the initiative will explore private sector engagement in both countries to provide sustainable support and facilitate technology transfer.