New collaborative launches to drive regenerative agriculture practices in Pakistan

Islamabad, 2 May 2024: WWF-Pakistan, with catalytic funding from Laudes Foundation, launched the Regenerative Production Landscape Collaborative (RPLC) Pakistan to drive new business models and farming practices that holistically tackle current challenges faced by smallholder farmers and address the environmental issues resulting from unsustainable practices.

Supported by textile and food brands, RPLC Pakistan will be implemented in the Jhang and Sahiwal districts of Punjab and Barkhan and Lasbela districts of Balochistan. The initiative offers a demonstrable approach to landscapes that has already seen success in India, Brazil, and Tanzania. 

Speaking at the launch event, Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF-Pakistan shared that the initiative addresses the long-term challenges of unsustainable agricultural practices in Pakistan. Highlighting that agriculture faced major issues of excessive use of water, chemicals and pesticides impacting the crop and soil productivity which is further aggravated by climate change, he noted that this has led to increasing vulnerabilities of local communities and smallholder farmers.

“To address these challenges, this initiative will enhance collaborative actions and develop innovative strategies which help farmers to develop climate resilience and improve the agricultural yield”, he added.

Addressing the workshop virtually, Anita Chester, Head of the Fashion at Laudes India shared that

"Laudes Foundation is incredibly pleased to see the RPLC launch in Pakistan supporting the local ecosystem towards sustainable and regenerative practices. We are confident in the leadership of WWF-Pakistan in driving the collaborative forward, fostering collaborations with regional players, supporting local farmers and communities to becoming self-sufficient and financially independent and galvanising communities towards better practices enabling businesses to source responsibly. Today the RPLC is planned to cover globally, over a 1 million hectares and over 300,000 farmers. In Pakistan specifically this will cover over a 100,000 hectares and benefit over 50,000 farmers in regions such as Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh. The approach has already made significant strides in many regions including India, Brazil, and Tanzania, demonstrating the scalability of this approach.”

Speaking at the workshop, Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Chief Guest, and Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) said that the project will help smallholder farmers and crop growers to improve crop productivity and income generation capacity. Furthermore, he noted that it will benefit them in  that the use of fertilizers and pesticides will be significantly reduced through adaptation of sustainable farming practices. He added that key problems in crop productivity result from the extensive use of chemicals which harm the ecosystem and soil fertility. He also emphasized the need to promote nature-based solutions which will help to reduce the negative impacts of climate change and improve sustainable farming practices. He expressed appreciation of the combined efforts of project funders, implementers and partners in this initiative.  

Climate change is posing a serious challenge to Pakistan’s economy, agriculture, and natural landscape. More than 1,700 people died in the devastating floods and widespread rains in 2022. The need to address these events in Pakistan is urgent and requires  governance and policy changes that address specific challenges impacting the different sectors.

Qadir Baksh Pirkani, Secretary Agriculture, Government of Balochistan shared that despite the challenges emerging from climate change, water scarcity, poor infrastructure and limited market access, Balochistan has great potential to contribute to the agriculture sector, adding that the province has 3.47 million hectares of cultivable land. He underscored the need to invest in agriculture and build the capacity of vulnerable farmers on sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate the supply-chain risks caused by climate change. He also noted appreciation for the project interventions and committed to support the sustainable agricultural practices.

Asad Imran, Director Foods and Markets, WWF-Pakistan provided an overview of the project saying that this five-year initiative calls for systematic changes towards a landscape-based approach which can further halt and reverse the productivity losses resulting from land degradation and climate change. Restoring and revitalizing the health of the soil, this project will improve management and conservation of water resources. At a social and economic level, it would enhance the capacity of the smallholder farmers to generate income and empower local women farmers by engaging them in different interventions.

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About Regenerative Production Landscape Collaboratives (RPLC)

Regenerative Production Landscape Collaboratives are innovative jurisdictional model to foster agricultural ecosystems which conserve and enhance natural resources and build community resilience whilst enabling businesses to source responsibly.

The collaboratives aim to catalyze and scale a model where:

• Producers grow agri-commodities using natural and regenerative farming principles that restore natural resources and reduce emissions from farming systems
• Smallholder farmers and communities thrive through improved economic stability, enhanced livelihoods and greater participation in decision-making
• Businesses can source responsibly while creating inclusive supply chain relationships

WWF-Pakistan

WWF-Pakistan was formed in 1970 to address the growing environmental and conservation issues in Pakistan that not only affected the flora and fauna but were also affecting the human population. WWF-Pakistan is a non-profit organization, working to preserve, conserve and save our environment and natural resources. Today, WWF -Pakistan works through 26 offices with a team of almost 250 dedicated staff members. With its head office in Lahore, and five regional offices in major cities of Pakistan, it has project offices wherever there is a need and the potential to make a difference.

Laudes Foundation

Laudes Foundation is an independent foundation accelerating the transition to a green, fair and inclusive economy. We do this by supporting brave action that inspires and challenges industry to harness its power for good. We focus on four key industries with an outsized impact on climate change, nature and social inequality: the built environment, finance and capital markets, fashion, and food. Complementing these industry-specific initiatives, our cross-cutting work in labour rights, finance and narratives amplify our impact across all sectors. 

For details:

Asif Sandeelo | Coordinator Communications, WWF-Pakistan | 03322764483 | asandeelo@wwf.org.pk