thematic lapa agriculture - lead.org.pk agriculture lapa.pdf · pakistan's agriculture sector...

Thematic LAPA Agriculture

Thematic LAPA Agriculture

LEAD Pakistan

Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) Pakistan

is a knowledge based organization working since 1995 to

inform policy and engage policy makers, through conducting

evidence based research, building capacity, facilitating open

dialogues and creating a global/regional/national network of

professionals and organziations prviding thought leadership in

sustainable development.

Written by: Khadija Zaheer

Edited by: Hasan Rizvi, Tahir Rasheed

Design & Layout by: Abbas Mushtaq

Produced by: Communication Unit, LEAD Pakistan

Picture courtesy: Visual Studio, online

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system.

‘This publication has been funded by UK aid from the UK government; however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.’

About Climate Leadership for Effective Adaptation and

Resilience (CLEAR)

CLEAR is a five year long project of LEAD Pakistan focusing on Climate Change adaptations and resilience to prevent the

marginalized groups in rural areas especially farmers from the adverse affects of climate change. The project is operational in

Province Punjab and Sindh, reaching out to thirteen districts, eight of southern Sindh and five of southern Punjab. This project

aims to streamline the local climate adaptation practices and to develop context specific district based Local Adaptation Plans

of Actions (LAPA's) through participatory approach; in consultations with key stake holders including local civil society

organizations, communities and duty bearers.

Climate Leadership for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (CLEAR) project was conceived through a participatory approach by

LEAD Pakistan to address the urgent and growing threats of climate change to poor and vulnerable communities in Punjab and

Sindh provinces in Pakistan. The project addresses the issues of lack of CSOs and communities' capacity on climate change

adaptations and resilience, lack of awareness among vulnerable communities as to their rights in relation to climate change,

lack of context specific effective adaptation and resilience models, low and ineffectively articulated public demand for the

government's responsiveness to climate change. CLEAR Project is not only empowering communities to practice in climate

change adaptations but also promoting a bottom-up approach for people friendly policy making.

The project enables communities to implement climate adaptive technologies (mobile flood warning systems) and facilitate

increased knowledge for adaptation (changing cropping patterns, under-water water reservoirs), introduction of alternative

livelihoods, particularly for women and other vulnerable groups (poultry farming, livestock farming etc.).

What is a Local Adaptation Plan Of Action (LAPA)This document discusses the impetus and methodology behind LEAD Pakistan's work on Local Adaptation Plans of Action

(LAPA). LEAD Pakistan through its Climate Leadership for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (CLEAR) has developed LAPAs on 2

key sectors: agriculture and water. Each of these documents provides a blueprint for institutionalising local level adaptation

planning, focusing on isolating key issues, and identifying resources, partners and potential adaptive interventions.

The result of a month process of intensive research and sustained stakeholder engagement, we hope these LAPAs will help

decision-makers, planners and civil society actors implement sustainable adaptation programmes and introduce long term

resilience building measures.

Climate change is a global phenomenon. The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that as the

world gradually surpasses the threshold of 2 °C and becomes warmer, it is likely to experience changes in temperatures (seasonal), more intense rainfalls, floods, droughts, sea level rise and other extreme events (IPCC 2013). These impacts extend beyond national borders. Populations living in small farming and fishing communities to urban metropolis' across the world are experiencing the impacts of climate change. However, the impacts vary depending on geography, and a community's ability to cope based on their livelihoods, their assets, and their social networks. Governments, planners, communities and households will have to step up and develop locally responsive and contextually sensitive adaptation initiatives in order to cope with, and reduce, the “vulnerability of natural and human systems against actual and expected climate change effects” (IPCC 2013).

Pakistan's agriculture sector is highly vulnerable to the negative impact of climate change. The most significant climatic changes have been long-term reduction in rainfall in the semi-arid regions of the country and higher glacial melts that contribute to over 70% of the river flows. Droughts and floods are common and because vulnerable areas are already severely degraded, food and water shortages cause heavy human losses every year. Severe floods hit Pakistan in 2010, 2011 and 2013, affecting over 30 million people (U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2011). These recurring floods are likely to have a severe impact on food security, natural resources and water resources especially amongst agriculture dependent communities. Variability in seasons, particularly higher temperatures and delays in the start of colder months, adversely affect crop sowing, maturing and harvesting cycles. More specifically, higher temperatures may reduce crop yields and encourage pests. Changes in rainfall may lead to crop failures, destabilise crop cultivation cycles, and lead to declines in production. Agriculture contributes 21% to Pakistan's GDP, and employs 43.7% of the labour force (Economic Survey 2013-2014). Any adverse impacts on agriculture poses a serious threat, not only to the national economy but also to food security. Therefore climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector has emerged as an important priority for Pakistan. Government planners are obliged to equitably distribute resources among the most vulnerable and needy population segments through effective national plans. In the annual 2013-2014 Economic Survey the Ministry of Finance agrees that the“Agriculture sector in Pakistan is to ensure adequate production and availability of food for the population and provide livelihoods to people directly involved in the sector along with the value adding chain.”

The interest in national adaptation planning emerged from the establishment of the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) in 2001. Created by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), NAPA was designed to support national planners identify their country's immediate vulnerabilities and needs as a result of climate change. While NAPA focused on policy and planning in response to country specific climate change impacts, the Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) programme was created to operationalise the objectives identified through NAPA.

Climate Leadership for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (CLEAR)

Climate ChangePakistan’s Vulnerability

1

In 2012, learning from neighbouring Nepal's example, Pakistan adapted its own LAPA methodology through CLEAR. LAPA methodology was designed to integrate and mainstream climate adaptation actions into district, provincial, and national planning processes in support of climate compatible development. Conceived through a participatory process the CLEAR LAPA approach addresses: (i) lack of capacity and information; (ii) limited and ineffectively articulated public demand for government action on climate change adaptation; and (iii) lack of awareness amongst vulnerable communities about their rights in relation to climate change.

CLEAR works with partner organisations in districts Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Multan, Rahimyar Khan, DG Khan in Punjab and Thatta, Badin, Dadu, Hyderabad, Ghotki, Larkana, Khairpur and ShaheedBenazirabad in Sindh.


Thematic LAPA: Agriculture

2

CLEAR's Approach to LAPAs

LAPAs have been envisioned by LEAD Pakistan as one outcome of a multi-dimensional process involving research,

planning and consultations. One of CLEAR's goals was to train communities and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to work together with local government officials to develop context relevant and issue specific LAPAs. It invited participation from women, youth, the elderly, disabled persons and other rural groups vulnerable to climate change and loss of livelihood. The micro adaptation projects emerging from the LAPAs include sustainable, where possible low-cost, actions that can be replicated and sustained by local partners once CLEAR concludes; capacity building modules for stakeholders; practical recommendations for local government engagement; and information to support district planning, and provincial/national policy development.

The LAPA methodology covers Community Based Adaptation (CBA) suitable for replication in any part of Pakistan (especially those falling under the CLEAR project) experiencing climate change impacts. The LAPA toolkit provides directions to practitioners for identifying area specific problems, assessing their gravity and potential impacts, generating solutions and modes of implementation, and identifying partners and beneficiaries. It also provides tools to measure process and outcome indicators. The process has been designed to empower communities and practitioners to implement adaptation actions.

ProcessLEAD Pakistan's LAPA process is organic in design and function. It works upwards from the local/district level to the provincial and national levels. Since adaptation is increasingly viewed as a component of development, CLEAR encouraged its local partner organisations to shape the adaptation interventions followed by official buy-in through evidence-based learning to support future development planning.

While this implementation-centricand evidence-based approach has empowered local civil society partners, it has been a little weak in institutionalising this process in official development frameworks, mainly because several local partners failed to build robust ties with their government counterparts. However, on the whole, the inclusion of locally based partners and community allies has strengthened the evidence-based facet of this project. Each micro intervention designed and implemented by CLEAR's local partners emerged from a 17 step participatory LAPA design toolkit with each local partner was trained in the use of the toolkit creating local hubs of knowledge for further outreach and dissemination. This national network of knowledge and stakeholders may serve an invaluable role when it comes to the uptake of government sponsored and funded LAPAs. Furthermore, CLEAR has effectively proven that there exists a large constituency with a ready appetite for adaptation interventions.

The LAPA design followed a six-step process: capacity building, research, scientific verification, LAPA formulation (prioritisation of adaptation options), LAPA implementation and annual assessment.

Climate Leadership for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (CLEAR) 3

Empower Communities

•Train communities and CBOs through local partner organisations to work with local government officials in developing and implementing LAPAs.

Capture Diverse Stakeholder Views

•Secure diverse stakeholder participation, thereby capturing the voices and views of women, youth, elderly, disabled persons and other groups vulnerable to climate change, while addressing the loss of livelihoods sources and opportunities.

Build Capacity and Share Information

•Address lack of capacity and lack of awareness among vulnerable populations about the impacts of climate change on their livelihoods, especially in terms of agriculture and water management. Improve articulation of public demand for government action on climate change.

CLEAR's LAPA methodology has four components: identification of critical climate issues, stakeholder engagement, adaptation micro-project design, and measurement of micro-project effectiveness. Partner organisations carried out Focus Group Discussions and assessments with their partner communities to identify climate change issues and existing farming practices. Following the research stage, CLEAR and its partners organised two workshops: a LAPA consultation workshop and a LAPA development workshop. The consultative workshop was a new experience for most community participants. It offered an opportunity to soliciting views and information from a diverse group of stakeholders. It also stimulated dialogue between local partner organisations, community members, and representatives from the district government. The second event was designed to develop and deliver a district specific LAPA. CLEAR anticipates that the district LAPAs will be reviewed on a yearly basis to assess whether they are still relevant and able to meet district needs.

DesignThe LAPA framework aims to:



•Training of master trainers from partner organisations•Disseminate training by repeating it among vulnerable communities in selected

districts

Training/Capacity Building

•Conduct district level vulnerability assessments to identify key climate change issues

•Conduct focus group discussions with partner communities

Research

•Verification of issues prior to holding the LAPA development workshop•Verification of solutions and proposed interventions emerging from the LAPA

development workshop

Scientific Verification

•Examine and prioritise pressing issues using the 17 -step participatory toolkit in a workshop setting

LAPA Formulation

• Implementation of micro -projects by local partners identified through the LAPA toolkit

LAPA Implementation

•Annual review of the LAPA process to revise and address methodological concerns

LAPA Review

4

CLEAR's local partners arranged met with community members and government staff and held focus group discussions to develop a picture of the issues and challenges facing each district. After applying the LAPA tools, project partners were able to list and prioritise key issues and identify solutions based on what was locally feasible, realistic and affordable for each district. In addition to local partner organisations, CLEAR also included local communities as on-ground partners and community representatives were included in issue identification, tasked with supporting micro-project implementation and were a key resource in monitoring the effectiveness of each project.

While the LAPA remains a planning and implementation framework at the district and community level, it also seeks to establish a robust link between national level assessments of current and future climate risks and highly localised geographically specific assessments, informed by community needs and local knowledge.

In Pakistan, although the LAPAs are described as district specific, activities were undertaken at the Union Council (UC) level to promote ownership among communities. This spurred communities to view climate change impacts and adaptation initiatives as central to the sustainability of theircurrent and future livelihoods. The 13 LAPAs have been attributed to the district for two reasons: (i) partner organisations represent different geographical areas within each district, and (ii) district government departments were consulted during the LAPA design and implementation process.

LAPA Terms and DefinitionsLocal Adaptation Plans of Action should be executable. This means that standard terms used in a LAPA are clearly defined. They must also allow room for identifying and building in implementing partners and their roles and responsibilities; include schedules for delivery of specific interventions and their individual components; and include concrete measurable indicators to measure progress and assess sustainability. These aspects, in addition to the context specific information on local climate induced problems and their proposed adaptive measures will enable start-up.

æ Changes in temperature: The term assumes a baseline average temperature level over a period of time (day/month/year/decade). Temperature “level” in this instance covers a maximum, minimum, mean and standard deviation in temperature recorded in a specific geographical location over a period of 50 years or more. “Seasons” in this context refers to time-scales governing the onset and end of average baseline temperature behaviour.

æ A “change” in “climate change” represents a deviation from the average over a ten-year period. This includes, in addition to extreme weather events, early onset, and delays in onset, prolonged seasons etc. LAPAs may therefore address both changes in temperatures as well as changes in seasonality.“Change” may produce conditions requiring farmers, planners and others to make adjustments.

æ Changes in temperature have been included because these may affect crop cycles, cop yields and quality of yields. This in turn may reduce the income earned from crops. It may also result in rising costs of cultivation as farmers invest in more water, more fertilizer, more pesticides etc. to increase yields. Rising costs of cultivation and/or reduced earnings from yields may force farming households into debt or increase their poverty. In some cases, it may even threat the household's food security.

æ Changes in precipitation: As described for “changes in temperature” the same assumptions regarding observed past maximum, minimum, mean and standard deviation in rainfall recorded in a specific geographical location over a period of 50 years or more applies.

æ Similarly, “seasons” in this context refers to time-scales governing the onset and end of average baseline behaviour of rain, fog, frost, snow, hail, winds etc. “Changes” refer to departures from the observed average baseline in terms of duration, quantities, onset and end.

æ Changes in precipitation have been included because these can impact the duration of the crop cycle, crop yields, and the ability to cultivate certain types of crops. Droughts or floods can disrupt crop planting and growth.

æ Sensitisation and capacity building: Given the rapid pace of these changes and their intensive impacts, stakeholders may lack the information resources on the need to adapt, and how to adapt. There is a need to



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sensitise stakeholders ranging from farming communities to district government officials, and media representatives to national planners.

LAPA PrioritiesTo date, 13 LAPAs have been developed for the districts D.G. Khan, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rahimyar Khan, Rajanpur, Badin, Dadu, Ghotki, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Larkana, ShaheedBenazirabad and Thatta, approximately 52 priorities were identified. The LAPA methodology restricted priority identification to 3-4 actions. These represent local priorities around agriculture and fisheries, water resources, food security,livelihoods and health. The figure indicates that nearly half (45%) of the LAPA priorities identified by local communities relate to agriculture. All 13 district LAPAs prioritise agriculture as a vulnerable sector. Unsurprisingly, many of the stakeholders, especially community participants, practice farming.

7 of the 13 LAPAs identified changes in temperature and changes in rainfall as key challenges that threaten cultivation, crop yields and quality. 5 LAPAs identified changes in temperature e.g. rising summer temperature, delayed onset of winter among others as threats. Despite this uniformity in threat identification (changes in temperature, changes in rainfall) across all 13 districts, the solutions proposed by individual communities to address these threats were variable. This proves that even though challenges might be common solutions are context driven. The solutions included promotion of on-farm water efficiency, adoption of water efficient crops, revisions to crop calendars, among others.

Content of Local Adaptation Planning OptionsThe adaptation plans below outline a series of agricultural adaptation options that have been tested by CLEAR's project partners in 10 districts. Specifically, the plans outlined below are based on micro-projects successfully carried out by CLEAR's project partners. They emerged as a result of a consultative process detailed in CLEAR's LAPA methodology. The rigour of the process means that all relevant stakeholders were consulted and their ownership of both the LAPA methodology and the resulting micro-projects is ensured.

The adaptation options described below, including the format and the methodology that has been adopted are useful for planning micro-level activities, which can subsequently be scaled up for wider implementation. However, these options may suffer from implementation challenges and these must be recognised. They may also forecast future ownership challenges such as institutionalising LAPAs as part of district and provincial development planning, committing funds to adaptation planning, and recognising the necessity of visualising the LAPAs as living documents that must be owned and updated by local government.

Agriculture45%

Fisheries3%

Water23%

Food Security11%

Health10%

Livelihoods8% Pakistan LAPA Priorities

6

South Punjab District LAPAs: Exploring Priority

Issues, Causes and Solutions


District Multan

Issues Causes Solutions Cross -cutting Actions Rising summer temperatures create a greater need for irrigation water that remains

unmet

Changes in temperature (hotter and longer summers, colder winters), changes in seasonal timings (summers start earlier, winters are delayed)

• Making on-farm water use more efficient through installation of naccas , and adoption of land leveling techniques

• Rehabilitating and lining water courses to reduce water

loss

through

seepage

•

Adoption

of

crops

requiring

less

water

•

Advocating

for investment

in

irrigation infrastructure

by

the

local government

• Identification of target groups

• Incentivising community up-take of adaptation actions

• Tree plantations • Partnership

and

coordination

with

local

government:

o

Nomination of

focal

person

o

Visit to sites

and

problem areas

o

Interactions with

communities •

Stakeholder

engagement

•

Information and

communication materials

7



District Rajanpur Issues Causes Solutions Cross -cutting Actions

More drought -like conditions, particularly in the winter season; decline in wheat yield due because of water shortages

Lack of rains, suspension of canal water as most irrigation canals have seasonal closures

• Promotion of crops that require less water to for vulnerable farmers

• Water course and canal rehabilitation to promote sustainable management of irrigation water

• Advocacy campaign to implement equitable distribution of water

• Explore small-scale water storage options to meet seasonal water deficits



• Tree plantations • Partnership and

coordination with local government: o Nomination of focal

person o Exposure to sites and

problem areas o Interactions with

communities • Stakeholder

engagement

• Information

and

communication

materials

8

Sindh LAPAs: Exploring Priority Issues,

Causes and Solutions


District Badin

Issues Causes Solutions Cross-cutting Actions

Changes in cropping patterns

Changes in temperatures

• Awareness and informational campaigns with farmers who will benefit from using the new cropping calendars

• Up-take of cropping calendars by district government to support outreach by agricultural extension workers

• Provision of seeds and fertiliser to partner farmers

• Farmer field schools to help farmers adopt new crops, utilise new cropping calendars

• Exposure visits among farmers



• Tree plantations

• Partnership and coordination with local government: o Nomination of focal

person o Visit to sites and


communities

• Stakeholder engagement

• Information and communication materials

9



District Ghotki

Issues Causes Solutions Cross -cutting Actions

Change in

cropping

patterns of

wheat,

sugarcane, rice

and cotton

Changes in temperature

(hotter and longer

summers, colder

winters), changes in

seasonal timings

(summers start earlier,

winters are delayed)

• Awareness and

informational campaigns

with farmers who will

benefit from using the

new cropping calendars

• Up-take of cropping

calendars by district government to support outreach by agricultural extension workers



• Identification of target

groups

• Incentivising community

up-take of adaptation

actions





communities • Stakeholder engagement • Information and

communication

materials

District Dadu


Shortage of agriculture water creates a decline in production

Changes in temperature - temperature increases – create a greater demand for water which remains unmet because of limited irrigation water distribution, and low rainfall

• Awareness and informational campaigns for farmers introduction of low delta crops

• Promote on-farm water efficiency

• Review crop types under cultivation, water needs, and harvest timings

• Promote dual cropping

• Encourage diversification of crop types


• Farmer field schools to help farmers adopt Better Management Practices (BMPs)

• Exposure visits among farmers







communities



10



District Hyderabad


Change in cropping patterns of wheat,

sugarcane, rice and cotton

Changes in temperature (hotter and longer summers), changes in seasonal timings

(summers start earlier, winters are delayed)



• Provision of seeds and fertiliser to partner

farmers

• Awareness and

informational campaigns with farmers who will benefit from using the new cropping calendars

• Farmer field schools to help farmers adopt new

crops, utilise new cropping calendars







communities



District Khairpur


Change in cropping

patterns of wheat, sugarcane, rice and cotton

Changes in temperature (hotter and longer

summers), changes in seasonal timings (summers start earlier, winters are delayed)

• Awareness and informational campaigns with farmers who will benefit from using the

new cropping calendars



• Provision of seeds and fertiliser to partner

farmers








communities



11



District Larkana


Decrease in

Guava yield – an economically important produce for

the district

Changes in temperature

(hotter and longer summers), changes in seasonal timings (summers start earlier, winters are delayed)

• Awareness and informational campaigns with farmers who will

benefit from using the new cropping calendars

• Up-take of cropping calendars by district government to support outreach by agricultural

extension workers

• Provision of seeds and

fertiliser to partner farmers








communities



District ShaheedBenazirabad

Issues Causes Solutions Cross-cutting Activities

Difficulty in cultivating rice

and cotton

Changes in rainfall patterns – timing,

duration, and intensity of rainfall destroys standing crops

• Awareness and informational campaigns regarding climate

change and its impacts on agriculture; introduction to new crops to replace cotton and rice

• Up-take of changing crop types by district

government to support outreach by agricultural extension workers


• Farmer field schools to help farmers adopt new

crops, utilise new cropping calendars







communities



12



District Thatta


Decline in crop yields

Subsistence farmers unable to adapt to

changes in temperature (hotter and longer summers), changes in seasonal timings

(summers start earlier, winters are delayed)

• Development of crop calendars for five major crops based on shifting

cultivation and harvest timings

• Training farmers on new calendars and multi -cropping

• Distribution of seed on cost sharing basis

• Up-take of changing cropping patterns and calendars by district

government to support outreach by agricultural extension workers








communities



13

Disclaimer

‘This publication has been funded by UK aid from

the UK government; however the views

expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK

government’s official policies.’

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LEAD HouseF-7 Markaz, IslamabadPakistan 44000T: +92-51-2651511F: +92-51-2651512UAN: 111-511-111E: [email protected]: www.lead.org.pk

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