Climate - Resilient Agriculture

Pakistan's agricultural sector is at a turning point. Erratic weather patterns, prolonged droughts and pest outbreaks have disrupted crop cycles and affected farmers. Being an agro-based economy, Pakistan is highly vulnerable to the vagaries of climate change, which is now even threatening food security, rural livelihoods and water resources. Given the importance of agriculture to the national economy, as well as people's livelihoods, it is critical to adopt innovative and sustainable approaches to protect this sector. One such solution is making investments in climate-resilient agricultural strategies. It is also necessary as the National Climate Change Policy, too, aims to “develop climate-resilient agriculture and food systems for all agro-ecological zones in the country”.

Pakistan's agriculture sector is a cornerstone of its economy and food security, as it continues to play a pivotal role in economic resilience and rural livelihood, contributing 23.5% to the national GDP and employing over 37% of the labour force. However, the sector faces an existential threat from climate change, as the country remains on the frontlines of the climate emergency. Ranked among the top 10 most vulnerable countries, Pakistan regularly experiences its consequences with devastating impacts. In recent decades, unpredictable rainfall patterns, ranging from untimely torrential downpours to recurring floods, along with sudden fluctuations in temperature, have had a profound impact on agricultural productivity. Given its high susceptibility to climate change impacts, Pakistan needs to prioritize new technologies to manage its overall agricultural sector, including water crisis, food security and economic stability. Promoting climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) provides one viable solution to this problem.

Climate-resilient agriculture uses a range of biotechnology and complementary technologies to guide farming practices and reduce dependence on chemical inputs, while maintaining or improving productivity. These tools include biofertilizers and biopesticides and soil-microbiome analyses. Genome-edited crops can be developed to withstand drought, heat, salinity or pest pressures. In parallel, AI-driven analytics can integrate multiple environmental and agronomic variables to generate locally tailored farming strategies.