The consumption of unhealthy and environmentally unsustainable diets is a major societal challenge because of its impacts on human health and the environment. The adoption of micronutrient-rich diets with relatively low pressure on natural resources is an important development target at the intersection between sustainability and public health goals. Pulses are known for being...

In 2023, the CGIAR Research Initiative on Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia (TAFSSA) addressed the nexus of poverty, social inequities, malnutrition, environmental degradation, and climate change through research and innovation. Collaborating with 10 CGIAR Research Initiatives, engaging with five bilateral projects aligned with Initiative goals, and partnering with two...

An assessment of seven innovation case studies in Pakistan in 2022 found that agriculture innovation systems show limited collaboration and networking, and a supply-driven rather than market driven approach to innovation. This limits the potential for scaling innovations such as the ‘Super Seeder’, a machine that sows wheat directly in...

How can rain-fed crops grow without rain? That is the question facing farmers in water-stressed regions where rising temperatures, prolonged periods of drought and other impacts of climate change threaten food security and livelihoods. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), climate solutions hold answers to...

In this video, How I Build Soil in My Garden, Nasira Habib explains how nature works to provide nutrients to plants. She also shares her experience of hot and cold composting. Additionally, she tells about the compost water extract.

Soil is our lifeline. It sustains life with a variety of foods, holds and filters water to provide us with clean and safe potable water and maintains ecological balance by storing carbon. But there is so much to understand about soil and how it works. Agroecology is a holistic approach...

This study uses social accounting matrix multipliers and structural path analyses to estimate effects of COVID-19 and related fiscal stimuli on five household groups. The COVID-19 lockdown increased poverty in Pakistan by 15%, which was addressed using a $1.5 billion, digitally implemented Ehsaas Emergency Cash (EEC) program that reached 14.8 million poor...

In this video, Nasira Habib shares her experience of making vermicompost in her garden. Vermicompost is a super compost. Worms turn your kitchen and other green waste into soil rich in nutrients and loaded with microorganisms that create and maintain healthy soil for us. Vermicomposting also helps us keep our...

Large-scale tree planting programmes have become politically attractive. They are claimed to be vital in tackling climate change and to provide big social and environmental benefits. This is a study of one such high-profile tree-planting project in Pakistan – the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme. With a reported budget of US$700...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) introduced the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach in 1989 to educate farmers on improved agricultural practices. The FFS approach has been used widely where a season-long school is established for farmers to engage in group learning and training activities. As...

You can convert garden waste into a rich garden resource. This video explains how Nasira Habib does it in her home garden.  

Crop establishment is often poor in the semi-arid tropics. However, good crop stand establishment is essential for the efficient use of water and light, and a uniform stand is a pre-requisite for cropping success. Seeds that germinate quickly produce viable seedlings that are not dependent on rapidly declining moisture in...

This report describes: (i) policy measures enacted by the Government of Pakistan to contain the spread of the virus; (ii) policies and measures to stabilize the functioning of agri-food systems; (iii) potential effects of policies on agri-food systems and vulnerable groups. Finally, the profile also assesses longer-term options for agri-food...

Fruit flies are a major constraint to the production and export of fruit and vegetables in South Asia. Two techniques were developed. Bait Application Technique (BAT), in which food baits are mixed with a small amount of insecticide to attract and kill adults. Male Annihilation Technique (MAT) is where synthetic...

This technology describes the introduction of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and compost practices for wheat production in Ghotki district in Pakistan under dry spell conditions, during the Rabi season in 2018 (January to April). It also provides a cost benefit analysis of the describe practice compared to the traditional wheat...

This technology describes the introduction of laser levelling, ridge sowing, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and compost application in cotton cultivation in the Ghotki district in Pakistan. Pakistan experiences several floods and droughts, worsened by climate change which is characterised by changes in the monsoon patterns and extreme temperatures. However, the...

This practice briefly describes the introduction of levelling and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices for wheat production in the Kashmore district of Sindh Province in Pakistan. It provides a cost-benefit analysis of this improved practice compared to the traditional way of producing wheat in the district. The main hazards affecting...

Crop establishment is often poor in the semi-arid tropics. However, good crop stand establishment is essential for the efficient use of water and light, and a uniform stand is a pre-requisite for cropping success. Seeds that germinate quickly produce viable seedlings that are not dependent on rapidly declining moisture in...

Crop establishment is often poor in the semi-arid tropics. However, good crop stand establishment is essential for the efficient use of water and light, and a uniform stand is a pre-requisite for cropping success. Seeds that germinate quickly produce viable seedlings that are not dependent on rapidly declining moisture in...

This technology describes the introduction of line sowing techniques and the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method for rice cultivation in the District of Muzaffargarh in Pakistan and its economic implications based on a cost-benefit analysis. The main hazards affecting agricultural livelihoods, including rice cultivation, of this region are dry...