For
a developing nation like Pakistan, it is highly important
to recognise the vital role institutions building play in
people's livelihoods. FAO works with the MINFAL to build capacity
for timely planning, preparation and strengthening of high
priority agricultural development projects. The Organization
works on programmes that aim to encourage decentralized approaches
within national agricultural organisations and increase the
responsiveness of planning to client needs. FAO is also engaged
in exploring the significance of the role of local governance
- particularly informal local governance – and private
sector in providing the framework within which non-farm activities
are promoted in rural areas.
FAO in Pakistan works in close partnership with a number of
local community-based organisations (CBO) and non-governmental
organisations (NGO) for instance Aga Khan Rural Support Programme
(AKRSP), Caritas, Dera Ghazi Khan Rural Development Project,
Women Agriculture Development Organization (WADO), World-wide
Fund for Nature WWF), National Rural Support Programme (NRSP)
and Sind Rural Partners Organization (SRPO).The partner NGOs
facilitate and implement FAO’s community-based development
project activities in consultation and collaboration with
the relevant government bodies.
FAO in 2008: Within the framework, FAO provides technical
support in the planning of Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
It has further demonstrated and advocated for the adoption
of innovative ways for linking capacity and outputs to the
needs of natural resource users.
Farmer Field Schools “Empowering Rural Farmers”
Farmer Field Schools (FFS)
are an alternative way of empowering small scale farmers,
to improve their production systems, food security and livelihoods.
The FFS approach capitalizes on farmer knowledge and the Organization
applies learning-by-doing methods. There has been a pronounced
need to train farmers in production techniques of crops, fodder
and poultry; animal health; water management; and soil and
water conservation.
FAO in 2007-2009
With the assistance of a
local NGO, the Kissan Welfare Association (KWA), FAO set up
59 FFS in affected areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP)
and Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PAK). Training courses
are being offered from the beginning of 2007 kharif season
to facilitate the farmer community in mutual learning and
knowledge sharing. As a pre-requisite, 56 farmer facilitators
(32 from PAK and 24 from NWFP were trained as master trainers.
The KWA has opened offices at Besham and Hattian to support
the schools in six union councils of Shangla, Kohistan and
Battagram, and seven union councils of Muzaffarabad in PAK.
Transboundary Animal Diseases:
Avian Flu
Since 1995, Pakistan has
been periodically affected by H5, H7 and H9 strains of avian
influenza viruses. On each occasion some of the major poultry
rearing areas were affected, thereby adversely impacting the
poultry industry. In 2004, the H7N3 outbreak in Sindh resulted
in the economy facing losses amounting to US $20 million.
During 2007, more than 40 outbreaks of H5N1 were recorded
in the poultry sector. In addition, the first human death
from H5N1 was also confirmed in NWFP.
FAO in 1995-2008
The Organization in response
has launched various projects to build capacity of government
institutions and farmers for effective surveillance, diagnosis
of the disease and bio-safety measures. FAO is further involved
in strengthening diagnostic and surveillance activities for
rapid detection of the disease by participating in related
national and regional projects. FAO also provides technical
input for contingency planning and emergency preparedness
for outbreaks of other transboudary animal diseases.
Strengthening Animal Disease
Surveillance and Control
Animal diseases particularly
Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) limit livestock productivity
and negatively impacts poverty alleviation in Pakistan as
in other countries of the region. FAO provides technical and
financial assistance to the Government of Pakistan in an effort
to combat these significant animal health hazards. There is
a need to set up an efficient disease surveillance system
for the prevention and control of animal diseases. The system
is expected to forewarn so that timely preventive measures
can be undertaken. FAO’s comparativeadvantage is through
capacity building of field staff and support for upgrading
the disease surveillance and information systems in Pakistan.
Continued......
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