Islamabad, Nov 9: FAO Supports Sustainable Farming Initiatives to Boost Food Security in Pakistan, Says Country Representative. As Pakistan grapples with increasing food security challenges, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is enhancing its support for local governments through initiatives that concentrate on sustainable agriculture.
In an exclusive interview with APP, FAO Country Representative Florence Rolle explained that through diverse programs, the FAO seeks to enhance productivity, improve nutrition, and create resilient food systems that provide Pakistanis with not only enough calories but also healthier food options.
The strategy of the FAO for assisting Pakistan revolves around sustainable agricultural methods that tackle essential food security challenges and encourage improved nutrition. Detailing the various programs her organization has launched in Pakistan, she mentioned that FAO is advancing local agricultural practices by promoting environmentally friendly methods that bolster resilience while improving soil health, water management, and biodiversity. These approaches enhance crop yields and sustain the long-term productivity of Pakistan’s agriculture, she emphasized.
According to her, small-scale farmers are crucial to Pakistan’s food production, and FAO’s initiatives equip these farmers with resources, training, and knowledge to implement sustainable techniques that safeguard the environment and increase their output.
Florence stated that the FAO focuses on food production that addresses not just caloric intake but also nutritional needs. By promoting a diverse array of crops, FAO enhances the availability of nutrient-rich foods necessary for healthy, balanced meals.
When asked about food safety standards, she highlighted that ensuring food safety is critical, and FAO partners with local governments to establish food safety standards and practices, providing technical support on aspects from effective farming methods to safe post-harvest handling, ensuring food safety for consumers.
Florence Rolle mentioned that the FAO also collaborates with communities to raise awareness regarding food safety and nutrition, asserting that educating individuals about nutritious foods and safe consumption practices is fundamental to FAO’s efforts to foster healthier diets.
In response to a query about empowering women in agriculture, she stated that acknowledging the influence of gender on food security, FAO prioritizes the empowerment of women farmers by improving their access to resources and their involvement in decision-making processes. This initiative enhances food production and furthers better nutrition within households, she noted.
To ensure that nutritious food is both available and affordable, FAO aids in the development of improved storage and distribution systems that minimize post-harvest losses. This process guarantees that a variety of foods effectively reach markets and consumers, stabilizing prices and availability, she added.
The Country Representative mentioned that FAO promotes healthier dietary habits through community education focusing on balanced diets and cooking with local ingredients. By advocating for dietary guidelines, FAO encourages the incorporation of a variety of foods and sustainable choices in people’s diets.
Through these efforts, FAO aspires to establish a sustainable and resilient food system in Pakistan, aiding the country’s initiatives to confront food security while promoting healthier eating habits, she concluded. According to the FAO’s country representative, the FAO’s Agriculture, Climate, and Water (ACWA) Portal Programs in Pakistan have seen considerable success.
This portal, created as part of a climate-resilience project, consolidates data to aid decision-making in addressing climate change. It unites federal and provincial stakeholders, improving data analysis and reporting for agricultural planning, she explained, adding that the portal’s continuity is sustained through consortiums at both provincial and federal levels, which align efforts across the Planning and Development (P&D) Board, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), and other significant agencies.
She added that the FAO has launched a Market Information System in Sindh under a project funded by the EU, which gathers and disseminates market data to enhance price monitoring and evaluations in Umerkot and Tharparkar. The FAO has trained local government officials on data collection and provided them with necessary IT tools, facilitating regular price updates. The success of this system has garnered interest for broader implementation across the Sindh province, she noted.
She mentioned that the FAO’s Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET) aids Pakistan’s national efforts in monitoring animal diseases, thereby enhancing the ability to respond to threats to animal health. This tool is integral to Pakistan’s investment in its National Programme for Animal Disease Surveillance and Control, which bolsters animal health systems across the country, she noted.
She stated that each of these projects reflects FAO’s dedication to scalable and sustainable approaches aimed at addressing the specific agricultural and food security issues faced by Pakistan. Through initiatives that improve data management, encourage environmentally friendly practices, and involve local communities, FAO is playing a role in fostering a healthier and more resilient future for Pakistan’s food systems, she remarked.
