FAO to Roll Out $6.9 Million Rice Project in Sindh

The project aims to enhance sustainable rice production landscapes in Sindh, one of Pakistan’s major rice-producing provinces. It will restore 15,000 hectares of land and improve farming practices on 50,000 hectares, including protected areas, reducing approximately 460,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, benefiting nearly 75,000 individuals, almost 50 per cent of whom are women.

FAO officials informed Dawn that the project concept was approved by the GEF Council last week, and it is currently in the preparation phase. The expected start date of implementation is June 2025.

The project will drive transformative change through four key interventions — strengthening policy and governance framework, increased financing and private sector engagement, innovation and technical support for landscape-level interventions, and knowledge sharing.

Part of the Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP), co-led with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), FAO aims to bring transformative change in the rice food system and contribute towards global environmental benefits such as restoring lands, conserving biodiversity, and reducing GHG emissions.

The Sustainable and Regenerative Management of Rice Production in Pakistan will support the National Food Security Policy (NFSP) in achieving national food security and nutrition goals through sustainable development of the agriculture sector. It will also help Pakistan fulfill its environmental commitments under various conventions and pledges.

At the provincial level, the project will support the Government of Sindh’s Agricultural Policy, aiming to reduce rural poverty and malnutrition, enhance climate resilience, and diversify the agricultural sector.

Moreover, the project will enhance existing investments at the provincial level by the Green Climate Fund and the World Bank, strengthening the resilience of agricultural value chains following the 2022 floods.

The FSIP, co-led by FAO and IFAD, will direct $252 million in project financing and $2.2 billion in co-financing to 32 countries, focusing on transforming global agri-food systems to be sustainable, resilient, inclusive, and pollution-free.

FAO will implement projects in 22 countries, including Pakistan, supporting National Food Systems Transformation Pathways and meeting environmental commitments.