Developing Mountain Agriculture Along the Pak-China

Economic Corridor(GB & Chitral)

Presentation to ???

By Dr. Iftikahr Ahmed

Chainman, PARCIslamabad 28, 20014

Connecting with the Global Economy

VisionIn 2025, the mountain agriculture in

GB&C is knowledge-based and market driven; it is optimally

productive, specialized and resilient. It is contributing more than USD 30

million to local economy from domestic marketing and export of

high value products, while also meeting 50% of local food needs

Mission Statement

Conduct strategic research on suitable technologies and

generate useable knowledge for GB&C agriculture to provide food

and livelihood security, and to develop a dynamic and high value

commercial sector

KEY CHALLENEGSResearch-development disconnect and

limited access to new technologyUnder-developed capacity for context-

specific researchSmall units of productionUnder-development infrastructure,

especially road and air transportationUnder-developed markets

Strategic FrameworkDomain Strategic Purpose ScopeLivelihoods and food security

Promoting wise use of natural resources, primarily for self-provisioning

Adaptive research to increase productivity and production in food, fodder and tree crops, livestock and inland-fisheries

High value commercial agriculture

Seeking opportunities for earning cash income and employment generation

Developing promising cash crops and agricultural value chains, based on the climatic advantage and market opportunities

Reducing vulnerability Hedging against crop/ market failure & conserving the regenerative capacity of natural resource base

Adaptive research on resilient crops and farming systems to reduce vulnerability to climate change and natural disaters

Integrated Area Development Approach

• Fodder/ livestock/ meat• Seed/ medicinal plants• Barley/ potatoes

Single

• Almonds/ Walnuts/• Off-season horticulture• Wheat/buckwheat

Transitional

• Wheat/Maize/ Vegetables• Livestock/ dairy• Mother nurseries

Double

Key Interventions• Context-specific research and

technology transfer• Gene pool preservation &

development • Certification regimes• Institutional development• Capacity development• Market Development

Context-specific research & technology transfer

True to type mother nurseries to propagate selected technologies

Production of foundational seed for a variety of food, fodder, vegetable and floriculture crops

Feeding extension services, through collaboration with public, commercial, NGO and community networks in GBC

Sustainable management of alpine pastures/ range lands

R&D on livestock and cold-water fisheries

Gene pool preservation & development

Classification of domestic gene pool of crops, culinary and medicinal herbs, and animals, which is at the moment on the verge of extinction

Classification of interbred breeds /varieties/ types and off-springs, and their genealogical structure and their commercial status

Gene banks of the best indigenous and adapted varieties and breeds

Research on biodiversity conservation and knowledge dissemination in partnership with relevant partners

Certification Regimes

Plant quarantine establishment

Phytosanitary certification systems

Establishment of Mountain GAP

Institutional Development

Broad-based governance and ownership of R&D institutions, especially representing provincial stakeholders

Institutional linkages with local development partners and regional and international centres of excellence are key to remaining ahead of the curve.

Public, private and community partnerships in developing high potential agricultural value chains

Capacity Development

Young scientists need to be trained in the latest research techniques through certified national and international level training programs

Study visits to see good agricultural practices in China and Europe

Promoting mountain-specific education in agriculture through partnerships with local educational system /KIU

Market DevelopmentCatalyze private sector investment in developing

and upgrading promising agricultural value chainsCrowding-in of service providers as much as

possible, providing a variety of customized investment products and services

Lower the risk for commercial banks to lend to agriculture, by providing limited guarantees or topping up their low margins, or both

Include high value products form GB&C in the bilateral trade agreement between China and Pakistan

Thank you