KARACHI: The United Nations and the US have joined hands with Pakistan to improve soil fertility in the Balochistan province where scarcity of rains has created a drought like situation over the past couple of years, officials said on Tuesday.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province, spread across 347,190 square kilometers, constituting 39.36 percent of the country’s land area.
Mina’ Dowlatchahi, an official at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Islamabad, said that the project — which is aimed at educating the farmers on how to identify soil fertility levels — is an initiative of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“Information provided will not only benefit the private sector but also facilitate public institutions in order to help farmers increase their yields in a sustainable manner,” Dowlatchahi told Arab News.
Dr. Waqar Ahmed, an official from PARC, said that the project will cover the entire Balochistan province, with farmers from the area expected to benefit from the initiative. The Soil Fertility Atlas for Balochistan was launched at a ceremony in Islamabad on Monday, Dowlatchahi said
“The US’ 50-year commitment to collaborate with Pakistan to strengthen its agricultural sector and rural communities continue to benefit the farming community of Pakistan,” a statement released after the ceremony, and shared with Arab News, read.
The atlas is part of an ongoing effort to manage soil fertility and promote sustainable agricultural intensification, in addition to providing a comprehensive account of soil types and their current fertility status, native best management practices, and fertilizer use trends to help Pakistan’s farmers and fertilizer producers implement best practices for increased crop productivity, Dowlatchahi added.
In her welcome address at the event, Dowlatchahi, the FAO representative in Pakistan said: “The atlas is an important addition to the series of soil fertility atlases which will be instrumental in addressing the lack of data in managing soil fertility in Pakistan. Soil maps based on agro-ecological zones have been made part of the Balochistan atlas. There is a need for raising awareness and increasing knowledge of farmers in addition to engaging with the public and private sector to ensure sustainable agriculture development in Pakistan.”
UN, US to help Pakistan improve soil quality in Balochistan
UN, US to help Pakistan improve soil quality in Balochistan
- To share expertise and technology in order to improve economic opportunities for farmers
- Province covers 39.36% of the country’s land area but very little of it is fertile
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia discuss regional situation, upcoming engagements
- Ishaq Dar and Prince Faisal bin Farhan agree to stay in contact amid Middle East tensions
- The two officials speak ahead of Trump’s Feb. 19 Board of Peace meeting in Washington, DC
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discussed regional developments and upcoming international engagements with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in a phone call on Saturday, according to the foreign office in Islamabad.
The conversation took place against the backdrop of deepening strategic ties between Islamabad and Riyadh. In September last year, the two countries signed a bilateral defense agreement that formalized decades of military cooperation and included a commitment to view aggression against one as an attack on both countries.
“Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation today with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The two leaders discussed the evolving regional situation, forthcoming international engagements, and agreed to remain in close contact,” it added.
The two officials spoke at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with the conflict in Gaza far from resolution amid ongoing ceasefire violations by Israel.
The region has also been on edge as the United States pursues nuclear negotiations with Iran, prompting regional states to call for diplomacy rather than new military flare-ups.
Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are participants in US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, which is scheduled to meet on Feb. 19 in Washington.
Islamabad and Riyadh have consistently coordinated positions over regional and global issues.
The foreign ministry did not provide further details of the discussion.
