ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP):The Punjab government has proposed a £300,000, 12-month climate resilient agriculture project for the Cholistan and Thal desert regions to help farmers adapt to climate change through resilient crops, nature-based farming solutions, digital advisory services, early warning systems and improved market access, according to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan.
Titled “AgriAdapt: Nature-Based Solutions for Climate-Resilient Farming in Cholistan Desert Zone and Sandy Desert Zone (Thal)”, the proposed initiative is part of the Pakistan Climate Prosperity Plan and aims to strengthen agricultural resilience in the two arid regions through ecosystem-based adaptation and improved support for farming communities.
The pilot will establish demonstration sites to test climate-resilient crops and nature-based solutions suited to the local agricultural conditions of Cholistan and Thal.
It will also introduce climate-informed digital advisory services and community-level early warning systems to help farmers make informed decisions in response to changing weather patterns and climate-related risks.
According to the project document, the first two months will be devoted to selecting project sites, conducting baseline assessments of farmers and stakeholders, and preparing crop plans.
From the third to the eighth month, activities will focus on field demonstrations, digital agricultural advisories, early warning systems and farmer training.
The project will subsequently develop market access, value-chain and crop insurance linkages, with these activities scheduled between the sixth and tenth months.
The final two months will be dedicated to validating outcomes, securing institutional adoption and preparing a plan to expand successful interventions.
Market development is another key component of the initiative, with a focus on strengthening connections between farming communities and agricultural markets through value-added production, agricultural processing and improved value-chain participation.
The proposed crop insurance and financial resilience arrangements are intended to help farmers manage climate-related losses and reduce their vulnerability to agricultural risks.
The Punjab government’s Planning and Development, Agriculture and Environment departments have been identified as lead government partners, while the Agriculture Department will implement the project.
The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) has been designated as the technical lead.
Farmers and their groups will participate in field demonstrations and adopt climate-resilient practices, while private sector actors will support market access, value chain development and agricultural processing.
Civil society organizations, community groups and research institutions will contribute to outreach, evidence generation and technical activities.
The proposed pilot brings together crop adaptation, digital agricultural support, early warning systems, market development and crop insurance within a single framework to improve the resilience of farming communities in Punjab’s desert regions.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
