Islamabad, In a significant push towards sustainable agriculture, WWF-Pakistan, backed by Laudes Foundation, has initiated the Regenerative Production Landscape Collaborative (RPLC) Pakistan. This new endeavor aims to transform farming practices and business models to support smallholder farmers and address environmental challenges.
According to WWF-Pakistan, the RPLC Pakistan will be implemented in the Jhang and Sahiwal districts of Punjab, and Barkhan and Lasbela districts of Balochistan. The project draws on successful strategies from similar initiatives in India, Brazil, and Tanzania, aiming to improve agricultural yields, reduce environmental impacts, and enhance climate resilience among local farming communities.
Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan, outlined the initiative’s goals at the launch event. He emphasized the pressing need to address the unsustainable agricultural practices that deplete soil productivity and excessively use water and chemicals, all exacerbated by climate change. The initiative, he noted, will foster collaborative action and innovative strategies to enhance the sustainability and productivity of agriculture in Pakistan.
Anita Chester, Head of the Fashion Programme at Laudes Foundation, participating virtually, expressed confidence in the leadership of WWF-Pakistan. She highlighted the initiative’s potential to impact over 100,000 hectares and benefit more than 50,000 farmers in Pakistan alone, part of a global effort affecting over a million hectares and 300,000 farmers worldwide.
Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), also spoke at the event, noting the initiative’s potential to boost crop productivity and income for smallholder farmers while reducing reliance on harmful fertilizers and pesticides. He stressed the importance of adopting nature-based solutions to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture.
The initiative also addresses the broader impacts of climate change, which have significantly affected Pakistan’s economy and agriculture, as highlighted by the devastating floods in 2022. Qadir Baksh Pirkani, Secretary Agriculture of the Government of Balochistan, pointed to the challenges and potential of Balochistan’s agricultural sector, underscoring the importance of sustainable practices in mitigating climate risks.
Asad Imran, Director Foods and Markets at WWF-Pakistan, provided an overview of the five-year project, which aims to halt and reverse land degradation, improve water management and conservation, and empower local communities economically and socially, particularly women farmers.