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...

I want to tell the whole world to switch to organic farming. There is nothing to fear and you will find it highly beneficial.” Meet Muhammad, a farmer from Pakistan who has been farming organically for many years now

No dig beds not only save from back-breaking work of digging but also create favourable conditions for microbial life in the soil. In this video, Nasira Habib shares how she prepares no-dig beds to grow vegetables and flowers in her organic home garden.

Bokashi is a nutrient-dense, fast-acting and soil-regenerating fertiliser. It helps increase the amount of organic matter in the soil and create conducive conditions for microbial activity. Nasira Habib explains how you can make bokashi at your garden or farm.

This technology describes the introduction of ridge sowing, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), and multi-cropping and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices for okra, sunflower, and sugarcane production in the Ghotki district in Pakistan. It provides also a cost-benefit analysis of this improved farming practice compared to the traditional practice. The main...

The Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) today approved an FAO project designed to transform Pakistan’s Indus River Basin by improving agriculture and water management to make this vital food-producing region more resilient to climate change. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has provided FAO with a grant of nearly $35...

More than twenty years ago, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations contributed to the growing recognition of the role of pollination in agricultural production, with the publication of “The Pollination of Cultivated Plants in the Tropics”. Since that time, the appreciation of pollinators has grown, alongside the...

More than twenty years ago, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations contributed to the growing recognition of the role of pollination in agricultural production, with the publication of “The Pollination of Cultivated Plants in the Tropics”. Since that time, the appreciation of pollinators has grown, alongside the...

The Sindh Peoples Long March was a massive public action that involved a 16-day walk of over 200 km from a small fishing village in the Indus River Delta region and culminated at the Governor House, Sindh, in Karachi. The long march, which started on 10 October 2018 and ended...

Quinoa, once a staple food of only the indigenous people in the Andes, has become a darling of food aficionados around the world in recent years. So popular it has grown that even some fast food restaurant chains have now dishes and salads with it on their menus. Its exceptional...

This document on Good Practices in Extension Research and Evaluation is developed as a hands on reference manual to help young researchers, research students, and field extension functionaries in choosing the right research methods for conducting quality research and evaluation in extension. This manual has been compiled by the resource persons...

In 2010, severe flooding killed nearly 2 000 people in Pakistan and wiped out 1.6 million homes. Whole villages were submerged, and families lost not only their homes, but also their livestock and standing crops – 2.4 million hectares of soon-to-be-harvested crops were destroyed, and estimated agriculture losses stood at...

This publication provides guidance on using a common methodology for monitoring pollinator diversity and abundance, as part of the GEF supported Project “Conservation and Management of Pollinators for Sustainable Agriculture, through an Ecosystem Approach” implemented in seven countries - Brazil, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan and South Africa. The project...

The two studies in this report explore these issues further using empirical quantitative surveys as well as qualitative fieldwork from a cross-section of developing economies in South and SouthEast Asia. The first study is an empirical investigation of the digital gender divide amongst the poor (broadly called the Bottom of...