Karachi: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Sindh on Tuesday reviewed progress on the Green Climate Fund (GCF)-funded project, Transforming the Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management, aimed at strengthening climate resilience in the province’s agriculture and water sectors.
A high-level FAO delegation, led by Deputy Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific and FAO Representative ad interim Robert Simpson, met officials of the Sindh Planning and Development Department to assess the project’s achievements, discuss upcoming activities and enhance interdepartmental coordination, said a news release.
The meeting was chaired by Acting Chairman of the Planning and Development Department Bilal Ahmed and attended by representatives of the Finance Department, Agriculture Department, Irrigation Department, Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) and the provincial Monitoring and Evaluation Cell.
The FAO delegation briefed participants on progress under the project’s three implementation components, highlighting achievements in strengthening climate information services, promoting climate-smart agriculture and improving sustainable water management in the intervention districts.
Officials said the project seeks to improve climate change adaptation in the agriculture and water sectors, enhance on-farm resilience and create an enabling environment for sustainable water management and climate-resilient farming practices.
The meeting was informed that Master Trainer Farmer Facilitators had been trained to lead Climate Business Farmer Field Schools, enabling farming communities to adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices, efficient water management and sustainable farming techniques.
FAO also shared plans to collaborate with Sindh Agriculture University to secure formal accreditation of the Farmer Field School curriculum to ensure its long-term sustainability and wider adoption across the province.
Participants were informed that the Hydro Informatics Centre of the Sindh Irrigation Department was using data generated from FAO-installed Automatic Weather Stations to produce farmer-friendly weather advisories, helping farmers make informed decisions and better prepare for climate-related risks.
The meeting also reviewed preparations for the forthcoming Provincial Project Technical Steering Committee meeting, which will provide strategic guidance and strengthen coordination among implementing partners and government departments.
Speaking on the occasion, Bilal Ahmed appreciated FAO’s continued collaboration with provincial institutions and acknowledged the progress achieved under the project. He reaffirmed the Sindh government’s commitment to supporting its implementation and stressed the need for stronger coordination to maximise its impact.
Robert Simpson said sustained collaboration between FAO and the Government of Sindh was vital to addressing the growing challenges of climate change and strengthening food security.
He said agro-meteorological information systems played a key role in developing effective early warning systems, while institutionalising the Farmer Field School methodology would ensure the long-term adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by FAO and the Government of Sindh to further strengthen cooperation in promoting climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable water resource management and resilient livelihoods for farming communities across the province.