ISLAMABAD: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has trained 250 farmer facilitators from climate-vulnerable districts of Sindh and Punjab to promote climate-resilient agriculture across the Indus Basin.
The training was conducted under the Green Climate Fund-supported project “Transforming the Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management,” co-financed by the provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh.
In September 2026, FAO, in collaboration with the governments of Sindh and Punjab, conducted an 18-day Training of Facilitators (ToF) on the Farmer Field School (FFS) methodology for 250 male farmer facilitators.
The participants came from climate-vulnerable districts, including Umerkot, Badin and Sanghar in Sindh, and Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab.
The training included practical sessions and field observations based on the Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA) approach. Participants received hands-on training in Farmer Field School methodology, Climate-Resilient Agriculture and On-Farm Water Management.
The newly trained facilitators are expected to establish and manage Farmer Field Schools in their communities. The approach aims to move agricultural extension beyond one-way information sharing by encouraging farmers to learn through practical field activities, community experiments and shared decision-making.
Through Farmer Field Schools, farmers can test different practices in their own fields and make better-informed decisions to deal with climate-related challenges, water pressures and changing agricultural conditions.
FAO said it is working with the Government of Pakistan to strengthen local agricultural extension systems through Farmer Field Schools and support communities in building greater resilience to climate change.
The initiative highlights the importance of placing farmers at the centre of climate adaptation efforts and strengthening local knowledge and practical skills for more sustainable and resilient agriculture in the Indus Basin.
