The third agriculture development partner’s coordination meeting was held at the FAO Representation office in Islamabad, on 28 June 2019. Donors, development partners, and government counterparts participated in the meeting. The locust outbreak in Balochistan and Sindh, drought situation in Sindh, and the Prime Ministers Agriculture Emergency Programme were the main highlights of the meeting.  
Secretary for the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Dr. Hashim Popalzai shared with participants that the Ministry had received the Edouard Saouma award for developing an effective National Control Programme (NPC) funded by the FAO Technical Cooperation program (TCP), and for the follow up program funded by Pakistan Government, to prevent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) at a ceremony held in Rome, Italy on 26 June on the side of the 41st FAO Conference. The award serves a testament to the success of the FMD program that has enabled Pakistan to continue in its efforts in addressing a challenge that poses critical risks to the livestock sector.
Dr. Shakeel Ahmed from FAO and Plant Protection Department, Pakistan Agriculture Research Center (PARC) delivered a presentation on the situation of locust and Fall Army Worm (FAW). The partners agreed that this could be a national emergency and prove as a major threat to the agricultural economy of Pakistan hence merits urgent attention.
After a swarm of locusts affected Balochistan, they have now taken over parts of Sindh; a presentation on the locust infestation provided the details of the outbreak.  As the outbreak situation worsened, FAO at the local level notified FOCAL Point on PEST against Crops (PaC) and enhanced interaction with concerned institutions such as the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and provincial agriculture department, Balochistan. DPP immediately started ground control and treated an area of approximately 10,000 hectares in Balochistan. Later the locust started to migrate rapidly in the deserts of Sindh and Punjab provinces. A ground team was deputed in Nara desert of Sindh to tackle the exogenous locust activities and treated an area of 25,000 hectares at Tehsil Thari MIrwah in Nara desert of Khairpur disctrict. At present, locust activity has been reported in almost all parts of Balochistan and other areas of Sindh. The Desert Locust has significantly affected crops in seven districts of Balochistan. No further damage is foreseen in Balochistan at this point as it was mostly caused by the spring breeding of locust, which should be now over in that area. The current spread in Cholistan district and Rahimyar Khan District is quite low. To date, small crop damages have been reported in Sindh. However, there is risk of a significant spread/ full-on swarm with serious impact on agriculture if there are pre/early monsoon rains both in Sindh and Punjab. In the case of these two provinces, locust is a serious threat and needs to be tackled timely.
 Aerial sprays of pesticides  are the most effective remedial measure in this situation. However, local district administration has cited shortage of technical staff and logistical support.
The government invited development partners for support and assistance to deal with the Locust infestation. Support in terms of technical training to staff, logistics and operations is needed as a matter of urgency. Development partners pledged their support to overcome the locust infestation through provision of resources and technical assistance to the government and were invited to follow up with the Ministry.
A presentation on the prospects of drought in Pakistan was delivered by Pakistan Meteorological Department. There is likelihood of a repeat of drought in already affected areas in October 2019.

Finally, the representatives from the Prime Minister’s Team on Agriculture, Mr. Saad Tamman and Ms. Amina Bajwa presented Prime Minister’s Agriculture Emergency Programme, which intends to spend Rs.290 billion in the next five years to boost the sector. The National Agriculture Emergency Programme will be executed with the coordination of all provinces to dramatically increase yields  of major crops  and diversify, conserve and improve water productivity, promoting high value fish farming, livestock initiative for small and medium farmers and transform agriculture markets

FAO representative Mina Dowlatchahi thanked participants and invited their support in tackling the threat of locust pest attack, which poses serious risks and damage to crops especially for small-scale farmers. Further, she reaffirmed that FAO stands ready to support the government in its efforts to achieve Food Security and agriculture sector inclusive and sustainable transformation.