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ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP):Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain on Monday called upon the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to support Pakistan in addressing water scarcity and agricultural revitalization.
The minister chaired a meeting with a delegation of FAO, led by Lifeng Li, Director of the FAO Land and Water Division.
The meeting focused on a range of critical issues impacting Pakistan’s agriculture sector, including challenges related to water availability for irrigation, water quality concerns, and seed-related difficulties.
Tanveer Hussain expressed his deep concerns regarding the declining water levels in the country and highlighted that this trend is severely impacting both drinking water supplies and agricultural irrigation.
He emphasized the urgency of addressing water scarcity, which is directly affecting Pakistan’s agricultural productivity and and urged the need for supporting in increasing rice yields, a key staple crop for Pakistan.
He urged the FAO to assist in launching flagship projects aimed at revitalizing the agricultural sector, especially in light of the significant challenges it faces.
These projects are essential for ensuring long-term food security in Pakistan, as the country faces various challenges exacerbated by climate change, he added.
The minister also called for the digitalization of agriculture sector, emphasizing its importance in enhancing productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.
He urged FAO to assist in the implementation of modern technologies and digital tools to help streamline agricultural processes.
By integrating technology into the sector, Pakistan could improve the management of water and land resources, ultimately leading to more sustainable agricultural practices, he added.
He called for collaborative efforts with FAO to develop innovative solutions that would improve water quality and increase the resilience of seeds to the impacts of climate change, ensuring that Pakistan’s farmers are better equipped to face future challenges.
Hussain emphasized the importance of sustainable practices that ensure efficient water usage in agriculture and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
He called on FAO to continue its support in adopting advanced water management technologies, such as precision irrigation systems, which can help address Pakistan’s growing water scarcity.
The minister proposed that FAO collaborate more closely with national institutions from the design stage of projects, ensuring local ownership and the long-term sustainability of interventions.
Hussain stressed that co-implementation of projects by FAO and national bodies would significantly strengthen Pakistan’s research and extension systems, improve institutional memory, and enable the country to scale interventions after project completion.
In response, Lifeng Li, Director of FAO’s Land and Water Division, acknowledged the minister’s concerns and reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting Pakistan in overcoming its agricultural and water-related challenges.
He assured the minister that FAO would continue to provide technical support in areas such as water resource management, agricultural research, and the adoption of climate-resilient farming practices.
Li also expressed FAO’s readiness to assist Pakistan in developing technical systems, such as remote sensing, GIS, and climate modeling, to optimize water and land management.
He also recognized the need for strengthening Pakistan’s institutional capacity to independently design and implement climate-resilient projects.
He emphasized that FAO is well-positioned to help build the capacity of national institutions to secure and manage international climate finance, ensuring that Pakistan can lead its own development initiatives moving forward.
The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to continue discussions on specific collaborative projects, particularly in the areas of water resource management, seed development, and precision agriculture technologies.
Both sides expressed a shared commitment to long-term, sustainable development, with an emphasis on climate resilience and institutional capacity building.
Rana Tanveer Hussain reiterated that for a more effective and impactful partnership, FAO’s future engagement with Pakistan should prioritize the capacity building of national institutions, enabling the country to independently secure and implement international climate finance.
He called for a more balanced approach in future collaborations, where national bodies take the lead in major project components with FAO providing technical advice and support.