The Food and Agriculture of the United Nations (FAO) has kick-started rice seeds distribution under the “Balochistan Urgent Response for Food Security Project” to combat food insecurity and poverty in the province. The Project aims to protect the flood-affected population from poverty and food insecurity by restoring their socio-economic conditions to pre-flood levels using the Build Back Better Framework approach.

An inauguration ceremony of rice seed distribution was organized by FAO in district Naseerabad.  Umaid Ali Khokhar, Secretary, Balochistan Agriculture and Cooperatives, was the chief guest of the ceremony.

Through the project, FAO, in close coordination with Government of Balochistan (GoB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and with the support from Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR), aims to respond to the livelihood and food security needs of the flood affected population in four districts, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Usta Muhammad and Sohbatpur.

Along with rice seeds, 60 000 farming households would also receive safer and more durable small tools and protective footwear in the target districts. Besides, FAO would also support women’s livelihoods in agriculture by providing protective footwear to 7 500 women laborers to enable safe rice transplanting activities.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Balochistan Agriculture and Cooperatives, said that the department, under the leadership of His Excellency Mr. Mir Asad Baloch, Minister of Balochistan Agriculture and Cooperatives, is determined to achieve prosperity for Balochistan through agricultural development. This joint collaboration between Government of Balochistan and FAO is the need of the time to support smallholder farmers of Balochistan, he added.

Waleed Mahdi, International Program Coordinator FAO Balochistan said that Balochistan has suffered multiple shocks in the recent years like the pandemic, influx of refugees, climate disasters, rising food prices and the international tensions that are affecting the global food security.

Waleed Mahdi, International Program Coordinator FAO Balochistan said that we firmly believe in the transformative power of agriculture. Through the distribution of climate adaptive (resilient) certified rice seeds to flood-affected farmers in Balochistan, we are not only providing immediate support, but also sowing the seeds of hope and resilience. The quality seeds will cover approximately 180,000 acres of land and expected to enhance crop yield by 10-20%. By enabling farmers to restart their livelihoods, we aim to uplift communities, combat food insecurity, and alleviate poverty. This initiative holds the potential to positively impact the lives of farmers, empowering them to thrive in the face of adversity. We are dedicated to working hand in hand with the Government of Balochistan and our partners to create lasting change and ensure a brighter future for the farming communities in Balochistan, he emphasized.


Highlighting the importance of the rice distribution after the floods, Deputy Commissioner Naseerabad district Ayesha Zehri said that the provision of climate resilient verities of rice will help in uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the flood affected farming communities. Director General Agriculture Extension Irfan Ali Bakhteyari informed that floods have incurred huge losses to agriculture sector and impacted the small holder farmers. The joint efforts will help disaster-affected farmer to timely grow rice and mitigate the risk of potential food shortage.

Speaking on the occasion of inauguration ceremony of rice seed distribution, Banaras Khan, International Food Security Specialist, ADB, said that in Balochistan, agriculture contributes to one-third of provincial GDP and major source of livelihoods for 68% of the population. Due to 2022 floods, out of 36 districts, 34 have been impacted, affecting at least 9.2 million people.

Thanks to JFRP grant through which ADB is supporting 60 000 most vulnerable and food insecure smallholder farmers with total amount of USD 5 million, he informed

While thanking GoB, ADB and JFPR, Mohammad Waheed Anwar, Program Coordinator of the project said that FAO will continue to contribute to the Government’s efforts to recover from the devastating floods of 2022 that has hit the country and Balochistan in particular.

The inauguration ceremony was also attended by deputy commissioner of Naseerabad division, officials from agriculture department, representatives of ADB, farmers and people from different walk of life.