Government urged to focus on climate change

A study conducted by Oxfam and the Indus Consortium, under their joint campaign on climate change and need for adaptation, has urged the Pakistani government to adopt the multi-hazards vulnerability risk assessment approach in each district of Punjab for development of local adaptation plans of actions (LAPA) in agriculture and allied sectors.
The study recommended incorporation of findings of local adaptation plans of action in district annual development plans and allocate financial resources, specifically for development of projects/schemes for women. It also suggested voluntary programmes for mass awareness on climate change, especially for women, and establishment of Climate Farmer Field (CFF) schools in each district.
The report further urged the provincial government to make water stealing a non-bailable offense. Higher rates of fines should be introduced according to the gravity of the offense and the stealer's purchasing power.
The study, entitled "Climate Public Expenditure Review," was launched recently in Lahore.
The discourse on climate change, the impacts and the need for measures for adaptation in the face of this unprecedented challenge, has now been perceived as quite serious at different levels in Pakistan. The shift in paradigm on climate change discussion started receiving attention during the last few years, especially in the wake of heavy floods which occurred in 2010 and 2011. These were followed by more such calamities with frequent intervals inflicting huge damages on the agriculture sector of the country. They disrupted livelihoods, especially those linked with the agriculture sector of the country.
Scientific evidences predict that the extreme weather events will become more frequent as a result of climate change in the coming years.
The recommendations also call for making annual canal maintenance and cleaning process more effective besides launching surveys of the agricultural areas to provide water every six months, taking into account the area, population and types of crops.
Appropriate legislation to stop the use of fertile lands for development purpose and acknowledgement of women farmers' contribution to GDP were some other demands of the growers.
Also recommended was training and equipping small farmers, especially women, with latest technology and products that will amplify their output by using Climate Farmers Field Schools (CFFS). Compensation was also recommended for small farmers and women against flooding on irrigated land according to law; either they are to be given alternative lands or effective methods be adopted to ensure flood mitigation.
The recommendations also called for developing crop insurance programs to influence farm-level risk management strategies with respect to climate-related loss of crop yields, besides ensuring these programmes for small farmers, including women.
It suggested that the government develop farm-level resource management innovations to address the risk associated with changing temperature, moisture and OUother relevant climatic conditions, besides bearing onetime cost to ensure placement of renewable energy resources instead of diesel (solar, wind energy, etc.), especially in drought-hit areas of the province.