Tackling Food Insecurity in Pakistan through Strengthening of Soil Health Monitoring and Soil Fertility - GCP/PAK/143/USA
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Land in Pakistan is highly fragmented. The number of small farms, of which 40 percent have an area of less than 1 ha, has increased considerably in recent years and now accounts for 8 percent of all cultivated land. There is a need to help farmers to ensure affordable access to inputs and reduce overall costs of production, while implementing Good Agriculture Practices. This will lead to a sustainable increase in production, sufficient and diversified food for subsistence, improved household income and an overall reduction in food insecurity. By using the principle of the Right fertilizer at the Right rate at the Right time in the Right place, or “4Rs”, and specifically Nutrient Stewardship, farmers can enhance yield and decrease expenses through reduced but balanced amounts of fertilizers that should be determined through soil testing. This also has benefits in terms of soil quality preservation. While the Government of Pakistan has prioritized a number of initiatives for smallholder farmers to improve their self-sufficiency in food production in the past, education and key messages on innovative knowledge products and farmer focused policies specifically regarding fertilizers and the management of problematic soils have not been promoted systematically. This project provided an opportunity for small and progressive growers to learn how to enhance crop production by managing soil fertility through the application of the 4Rs in two Provinces.