QUETTA: The chief executive officer of Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), Qazi Azmat Isa, and Marcel Stallen of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Balochistan initiative.

The partnership involves agricultural and livestock interventions, particularly in Qila Saifullah and Kech districts.

A joint mission comprising experts from both organisations has been sent to the two districts to study working models at the field level, identify community needs, assess priorities and plan short-term interventions to pilot test.

Pilot interventions are planned for current Rabi crops for a period of nine months with project activities, including vegetable production in plastic walk-in tunnels, establishment of farmers’ field schools for wheat producers, formation and facilitation of farmers associations, all for improved agricultural products.

Qazi Azmat Isa said: “In a mutually beneficial partnership, the FAO is keen on using the PPAF outreach, especially its vast network of community organisations and help farmers’ association look forward to utilising the FAO’s technical expertise around agriculture related sub-sectors.”

The initiative aims at building the strength of these two organisations in remote union councils of Balochistan, where both already have a presence.

The PPAF and the FAO have presence in a number of districts with five most active districts. Their activities are complementary to each other as they strive to mobilise communities through community development.

Following completion of nine-month pilot interventions, outputs and achievements will be showcased before donor agencies. This alliance will also create space for both partners to design and implement future projects from a joint platform where PPAF will bring in community development expertise, while the FAO their technical expertise around agriculture and livestock related sub-sectors.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2016