FAO Expands Climate-Resilient Agriculture Project Across Punjab and Sindh

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is advancing climate-resilient agriculture and water management in Pakistan’s Indus Basin through a major project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and co-financed by the governments of Punjab and Sindh.

The initiative covers five districts in Punjab and three in Sindh, with South Punjab serving as a key focus area for strengthening agricultural resilience against climate change.

According to the GCF, the project is expected to directly benefit 1.3 million people and indirectly impact around 16 million others by improving farmers’ ability to adapt to changing climate conditions.

As part of the project, FAO and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) have installed 24 automatic weather stations, including 15 in Punjab and nine in Sindh. The expanded network supports the development of Impact-Based Forecasting (IBF), which translates weather and climate data into practical farming advice.

To prepare climate advisories for Kharif 2026 cotton and rice crops, FAO recently organized a two-day adaptation workshop in Multan. The event brought together representatives from PMD, agriculture departments, water management authorities, academia, civil society organizations, and farming communities.

Participants developed crop-specific adaptation strategies for key climate risks, including extreme rainfall, drought conditions, and rising temperatures. The workshop also incorporated farmers’ indigenous knowledge to ensure recommendations remain practical and locally relevant.

FAO Punjab Head Emelda Berejena said the initiative aims to deliver timely weather and climate information that helps farmers make informed decisions, improve preparedness, and strengthen resilience.

PMD Chief Meteorologist Dr Zaheeruddin Baber said impact-based forecasting focuses on understanding how weather events affect crops and farming operations rather than simply predicting weather conditions.

Officials say the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices under the project is already showing promising results by increasing crop yields while using fewer resources.