FAO to Provide Crop-Specific Climate Advisories to Farmers Under Climate Resilient Agriculture Plan
Lahore: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is implementing a climate-resilient agriculture and water management initiative in Punjab and Sindh to provide crop-specific climate advisories to farmers, particularly cotton and rice growers in South Punjab.
The project, titled “Transforming the Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management,”is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and co-financed by the governments of Punjab and Sindh.
The initiative aims to strengthen climate resilience among vulnerable farming communities, improve water management practices, and enhance institutional capacity for climate adaptation. According to the GCF, the project is expected to directly benefit 1.3 million people and indirectly support around 16 million people.
Under the project, FAO has collaborated with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) to install 24 automatic weather stations, including 15 in Punjab and nine in Sindh. The expanded weather monitoring network is being used to develop impact-based weather forecasts for Rabi and Kharif crops.
A two-day adaptation workshop was held in Multan to develop and launch impact-based forecasts for Kharif 2026 cotton and rice crops. The event brought together representatives from FAO, PMD, agriculture departments, water management authorities, research institutions, civil society organisations, academia, and farming communities.
The workshop focused on converting climate and weather information into practical, crop-specific guidance for farmers. Participants reviewed impact tables, identified critical climate thresholds, and developed decision-making mechanisms for different crop stages.
Technical sessions addressed major climate risks affecting cotton and rice production, including extreme rainfall, low rainfall and water stress, and extreme temperatures.
The workshop also incorporated indigenous knowledge and farmers’ field experiences to ensure that climate advisories are practical, locally relevant, and easily applicable for agricultural communities.
FAO Punjab Head Emelda Berejena said the initiative represents an important step in transforming climate information into practical action for farmers. She added that FAO is working with provincial institutions and technical partners to ensure that farmers receive timely and usable guidance to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture.
PMD Chief Meteorologist Dr Zaheeruddin Baber said impact-based forecasting goes beyond predicting weather conditions by explaining how weather events may affect crops and farming decisions.
Agriculture Department Director Crop Reporting Service Dr Muhammad Muneer said climate-resilient practices introduced under the initiative are showing promising results by improving crop yields while using fewer resources.
