Charting a Sustainable Path: CPEC's Climate-Smart Agriculture for Food Security
On Tuesday, experts advocated the formation of a collaborative socio-economic task force between Pakistan and China within the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Their primary goal is to bolster agricultural growth, elevate crop yields, enhance farmland sustainability, and uplift the livelihoods of farmers through the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.
The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) spearheaded a capacity-building workshop titled "Climate-Smart Agricultural Cooperation under CPEC." This event, moderated by Zainab Naeem, a Research Associate at SDPI, brought together a diverse group, including academics, Chinese Embassy representatives, members of PARC, students, and media professionals.
P.c. Pakistan Observer
Dr. Hassan Daud Butt, Senior Advisor and Research Fellow at SDPI, emphasized the need to establish joint working groups and demonstration centers nationwide as part of the CPEC's second phase. These centers would serve as hubs for showcasing advanced farming techniques, equipping farmers with the latest agricultural methodologies, and boosting production.
Dr. Butt also highlighted the positive trend in Pakistan's agricultural exports to China, including a 15% increase in rice exports and a 30% surge in soybean exports. He noted the unique occurrence of Pakistani fish from Gwadar being sold in Shenzhen and Urumqi.
However, Dr. Butt acknowledged that challenges, such as the high cost of technology, limited human resource capacity, and low agricultural yields leading to poverty, must be addressed. He stressed that the escalating consequences of climate change could pose security threats if left unattended.
To bridge the rural-urban divide and promote balanced development, Dr. Butt urged the government to incentivize farmers by making agriculture more profitable, explore the potential of aquamarine resources, and ensure affordable housing for farmers while reducing input costs.
Dr. Gu Wenliang, Second Secretary of the Embassy of China (Economic and Commercial), shared that China faces similar climate change challenges and has responded by investing in infrastructure resilience, advanced irrigation technology, and specialized farmer associations. China has also set ambitious targets to reduce pesticide and fertilizer use, utilize biogas technology, and employ drones for farming tasks.
Dr. Wenliang proposed collaboration between Chinese banks, companies, and their Pakistani counterparts to provide free seeds and loans for mechanization and pesticides, promoting contract farming.
Dr. Aamer Irshad from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) pointed out that Pakistan's agricultural growth rate has declined over the years due to climate change and insufficient research. He emphasized the importance of tech-driven mitigation and adaptation efforts without compromising profitability, biodiversity conservation, and gender balance.
Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, underscored the urgency of climate-smart agriculture, citing the potential for economic growth through export opportunities with China. He also drew attention to the FAO's initiatives and the need to combat hunger, given the challenging socioeconomic conditions in Pakistan.
Dr. Suleri urged Pakistan to draw inspiration from China's Great Green Wall project, which transformed the Gobi Desert into a lush green region. He highlighted the vast economic potential in leveraging export opportunities with China, emphasizing the critical role of climate-smart agriculture in addressing environmental degradation and securing a sustainable future.