Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired a high-level meeting with Mr. Robert Simpson, Deputy Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to review ongoing cooperation and explore new avenues for collaboration in climate-resilient agriculture, food security and sustainable agricultural development.
Welcoming the FAO delegation, the Federal Minister appreciated FAO's longstanding partnership with Pakistan and acknowledged its valuable support in strengthening the country's agriculture and food systems. He noted that Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite its negligible contribution to global carbon emissions and emphasized the need for enhanced technical assistance and timely implementation of ongoing projects.
The FAO delegation briefed the Minister on key areas of collaboration, including the One Health Programme, food safety and phytosanitary (SPS) systems, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), sustainable agricultural mechanization, climate resilience under the Indus River Basin Programme, and the use of GIS, remote sensing and agrometeorological technologies to support climate-smart agriculture.
Mr. Robert Simpson also proposed organizing a National Climate Forum in collaboration with the Ministry to bring together government, development partners and the private sector to strengthen climate action in agriculture. The Minister welcomed the proposal and reaffirmed the government's commitment to climate-resilient agricultural development.
Rana Tanveer Hussain highlighted the government's priorities, including strengthening food safety and SPS systems, promoting climate-resilient certified seeds through NASDRA, expanding agricultural mechanization and storage infrastructure, establishing Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), implementing the One District, One Product initiative in selected underdeveloped districts, enhancing livestock exports through improved disease control, and reducing dependence on imported wheat and edible oil.
The FAO delegation informed the Minister that it would continue supporting Pakistan in mobilizing funding from international financial institutions and development partners. Both sides also discussed FAO's upcoming policy report on Pakistan's food production and nutrition needs, as well as the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, under which Pakistan is participating with Chilgoza, while Chaunsa Mango has been proposed for inclusion.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation in climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, livestock development and food security for the benefit of Pakistan's farming community.
