Improving Livelihoods and Environment by Conserving and Promoting Indigenous Agro-ecological Balance.
To document, diversify, test and promote indigenous agricultural systems for promotion of sustainable agriculture to improve the livelihoods of small farmers.
New technologies introduced by the green revolution have enhanced land and water exploitation, while the quality control and recycling process of natural resources is intervened and deteriorated. The natural biological link between man, soil, climate, crops and livestock is disturbed leading to non-regenerative components of resource utilization. The nutrient rich organic matter and animal manure, which are critical in maintaining soil chemistry and fertility, are replaced by the wide spread use of chemical fertilizers. This surplus waste is health and environmental hazard and needs to be managed on permanent basis. The conserving of basic resources is a serious threat for the small growers, who cannot replace or abandon them.
In addition to the resource constraints, small growers face technical constraints due to lack of access to conservation technologies, i.e. land leveling, appropriate crop rotation, etc. Which keeps their farming practices non-optimal. The lack of information/knowledge increases their inability to face risks.
A practical demonstration of biodiversity and resource conservation measures/tools followed by training of small growers and women is expected to be an effective technique to introduce these measures.
New technologies introduced by the green revolution have enhanced land and water exploitation, while the quality control and recycling process of natural resources is intervened and deteriorated. The natural biological link between man, soil, climate, crops and livestock is disturbed leading to non-regenerative components of resource utilization. The nutrient rich organic matter and animal manure, which are critical in maintaining soil chemistry and fertility, are replaced by the wide spread use of chemical fertilizers. This surplus waste is health and environmental hazard and needs to be managed on permanent basis. The conserving of basic resources is a serious threat for the small growers, who cannot replace or abandon them.
In addition to the resource constraints, small growers face technical constraints due to lack of access to conservation technologies, i.e. land leveling, appropriate crop rotation, etc. Which keeps their farming practices non-optimal. The lack of information/knowledge increases their inability to face risks.
A practical demonstration of biodiversity and resource conservation measures/tools followed by training of small growers and women is expected to be an effective technique to introduce these measures.
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Green Circle Organization
Country:
Pakistan
Area Of Work:
Land Degradation
Grant Amount:
US$ 50,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 7,561.00
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 40,394.00
Project Number:
PAK/02/37
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The population pressure and the green revolution initiatives have shifted low intensity farming of traditionally low delta crops using farm manure into extensive, high fertilizer and water use cropping. The promised output of "new agriculture and rural model" is yet not achieved, while its sustainability could be seriously doubted as the rural communities facing increasing poverty and development deadlock. These factors are resulting in:
O Over exploitation of land, causing land degradation, low fertility, pest attacks.
O Threatening of natural ecosystems from demographic, socio-economic and technological changes. This results in habitat fragmentation and even destruction. The abandonment of traditional agriculture and natural resources management practices has further threatened the bio-diversity.
O Water scarcity and water quality deterioration not able to support water needs of the crops, provide sufficient leaching and sustain balanced environment for the biological life.
O Continuous increase in fertilizer prices has kept profit balance of the farm towards negative side and these indirect taxes are the main cause of farmer's inability to pay direct taxes.
O The organic, human and livestock wastes have been increasing and getting out of utilization at the same time causing a big environmental challenge to rural areas.
O Present rural model is not able to utilize and progressively develop human resources and keep a harmony between human activities and natural environment.
Hence, the existing resource use and agriculture model is consistently deteriorating natural resources and consistently under utilizing human resources.
An integrated and comprehensive approach is needed to intervene existing natural resource management and utilization scenario to address above - mentioned issues. The proposed activities are components of an integrated approach comprising of horticulture biodiversity, waste recycling, environment friendly agriculture and human resource development.
Capacity - Building Component
The project is designed to demonstrate, through small-scale activities, successful (potentially successful) approaches to reduce greenhouse emissions leading to global warming, conserving biodiversity important for agriculture and combating desertification and land degradation through promotion of organic farming.
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SGP Country office contact
Mr. Chatro Khatri
Phone:
+92-22-2108073
Fax:
+92-22-2108074
Email:
Country Website
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