Training of organic farmers on pest identification and crop scouting. Credit: CABI

Non-GMO seed multiplication and testing. Credit: CABI

Review workshop. Credit: CABI

Business skill development training to organic cotton farmers. Credit: CABI

Project launch workshop - Dr Babar from CABI (centre) with key partners and stakeholders. Credit: CABI

Project launch workshop. Credit: CABI

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Project Overview

So, what’s the problem

Conventional farming practices rely heavily on the application of chemical inputs and high-yielding varieties which has affected soil fertility and led to a loss in topsoil, organic matter and crop production. Due to increases in input costs and stagnant market prices of agricultural outputs, conventional farming also brings small profits. It is these factors and practices that pose a serious threat to future food security and has highlighted the role of sustainable agricultural systems.

Organic agriculture has the potential to address these threats to agricultural sustainability by minimizing the use of costly synthetic inputs, such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, as well as making agriculture more environmentally sustainable and economically viable. Moreover, it avoids nutrient exploitation, increases soil organic matter content and higher prices can be obtained through organic certification.

Organic agriculture production also improves farm incomes due to lower input costs and higher sale prices which when combined contributes to the organic ecosystem – a key factor for environmental protection and poverty alleviation.

However, in order for organic agriculture to start, and remain sustainable, policy is needed.

What is this project doing?

The main goal of the project is to develop a sustainable organic agriculture landscape, creating a robust and widely accepted organic agriculture policy, standards and regulation, that will help to build new business models at local levels and support organic agriculture.

The project will support efforts to address issues regarding organic agriculture promotion including clear policy gaps and the unavailability of good quality organic seed and bio-inputs, making them available to those who need them – the producers.

A landscape initiative in the Barkhan and Lasbela districts of Balochistan – based on a land management approach integrating policy and relevant practices to solve those issues regarding organic agriculture promotion – will help to address systematic issues by bringing all the relevant stakeholders (policymakers, supply chain members, farmers) together towards the shared goals of targeting climate change and inequality.

To achieve this initiative, the project has the following objectives:

1. Develop an organic agriculture policy for Balochistan
2. Enhance the availability of good quality organic seed
3. Advance the accessibility of bio-inputs for organic agriculture production systems