Agriculture, livestock interventions to be carried out in two Balochistan districts: PPAF, FAO sign MoU

The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to begin the Alliance for Change in Balochistan initiative. With this partnership, pilot agricultural and livestock interventions will be carried out in two districts of Balochistan (Qilla Saifullah and Kech), according to the PPAF officials.
PPAF and FAO have sent a joint mission comprising experts to both districts to study the working models at field level to identify community needs, assess their priorities and plan short term interventions to pilot test. Pilot interventions are planned for the current Rabi season for a period of nine months with project activities to include vegetable production in plastic walk-in tunnels, establishment of Farmers Field Schools for wheat producers, formation and facilitation of Farmers Associations for improved agricultural products.
Qazi Azmat Isa, CEO of PPAF said that in a mutually beneficial partnership, FAO is keen on using PPAF outreach, specially its vast network of community organisations and help farmers association established by FAO and PPAF looks forward to utilising FAO's technical expertise around agriculture related sub-sectors.
The initiative aims to build on the strengths of the two organisations in the remote union councils of Balochistan, where both the organisations have a presence. PPAF and FAO have a presence in a number of districts in Balochistan, however, five districts have been identified where both are active. The activities of both organisations are complementary as they strive to mobilise communities through community development.
Following completion of the nine-month pilot interventions, the outputs and achievements will be showcased before donor agencies. This alliance will also create space for both partners to design and implement future projects from a joint platform, where PPAF will bring in community development expertise while FAO will bring in their technical expertise around agriculture and livestock related sub-sectors.