The Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired a significant meeting with a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), led by Mr. Lifeng Li, Director of the FAO Land and Water Division. The meeting focused on a range of critical issues impacting Pakistan's agriculture sector, including challenges related to water availability for irrigation, water quality concerns, and seed-related difficulties.
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain began the meeting by expressing his deep concerns regarding the declining water levels in the country. He highlighted that this trend is severely impacting both drinking water supplies and agricultural irrigation. The Minister emphasized the urgency of addressing water scarcity, which is directly affecting Pakistan’s agricultural productivity. Additionally, Minister Hussain noted the growing concern over the negative impact of large-scale construction projects on fertile agricultural land, which is further degrading the country's ability to produce food sustainably.
One of the central points raised by the Minister was the urgent need for FAO’s support in increasing rice yields, a key staple crop for Pakistan. He urged the FAO to assist in launching flagship projects aimed at revitalizing the agricultural sector, especially in light of the significant challenges it faces. Minister Hussain stressed that these projects are essential for ensuring long-term food security in Pakistan, as the country struggles with various challenges exacerbated by climate change.
The Minister also called for the digitalization of Pakistan’s agriculture sector, emphasizing its importance in enhancing productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. He urged FAO to assist in the implementation of modern technologies and digital tools to help streamline agricultural processes. By integrating technology into the sector, Pakistan could improve the management of water and land resources, ultimately leading to more sustainable agricultural practices.
Addressing the issue of water quality and seed challenges, Minister Hussain expressed his concerns about the declining quality of irrigation water and the difficulties faced in seed development. He called for collaborative efforts with FAO to develop innovative solutions that would improve water quality and increase the resilience of seeds to the impacts of climate change, ensuring that Pakistan's farmers are better equipped to face future challenges.
In addition, the Minister underscored the critical need for enhanced water resource management strategies. He emphasized the importance of sustainable practices that ensure efficient water usage in agriculture and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. Minister Hussain called on FAO to continue its support in adopting advanced water management technologies, such as precision irrigation systems, which can help address Pakistan’s growing water scarcity.
One of the key points raised by Minister Hussain was the need for a more balanced approach in future FAO-supported projects. He proposed that FAO collaborate more closely with national institutions from the design stage of projects, ensuring local ownership and the long-term sustainability of interventions. Minister Hussain stressed that co-implementation of projects by FAO and national bodies would significantly strengthen Pakistan’s research and extension systems, improve institutional memory, and enable the country to scale interventions after project completion.
In response, Mr. Lifeng Li, Director of FAO's Land and Water Division, acknowledged the Minister's concerns and reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting Pakistan in overcoming its agricultural and water-related challenges. He assured Minister Hussain that FAO would continue to provide technical support in areas such as water resource management, agricultural research, and the adoption of climate-resilient farming practices. Mr. Li also expressed FAO's readiness to assist Pakistan in developing technical systems, such as remote sensing, GIS, and climate modeling, to optimize water and land management.
Mr. Li also recognized the need for strengthening Pakistan’s institutional capacity to independently design and implement climate-resilient projects. He emphasized that FAO is well-positioned to help build the capacity of national institutions to secure and manage international climate finance, ensuring that Pakistan can lead its own development initiatives moving forward.
The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to continue discussions on specific collaborative projects, particularly in the areas of water resource management, seed development, and precision agriculture technologies. Both sides expressed a shared commitment to long-term, sustainable development, with an emphasis on climate resilience and institutional capacity building.
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain reiterated that for a more effective and impactful partnership, FAO’s future engagement with Pakistan should prioritize the capacity building of national institutions, enabling the country to independently secure and implement international climate finance. He called for a more balanced approach in future collaborations, where national bodies take the lead in major project components with FAO providing technical advice and support.
Both the Minister and Mr. Li agreed that a more balanced collaboration model would benefit both Pakistan and FAO, ensuring that future projects are more impactful, sustainable, and aligned with Pakistan’s national development priorities.
