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Need to support women's role in educating future generations on a better use of agricultural resources, nurturing the integral development of communities, and transferring knowledge in support of resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems. This work, often unrecognized in public spheres, should also be supported through political and economic measures

Responding to the first lever of change of the UNFSS, women empowerment, the focus of this dialogue was the unique role of women in promoting human development, with emphasis on how to support their leadership in shaping resilient food systems across the globe. Women represent approximately 40% of the world’s rural agricultural workforce – nearly 50% in low-income countries – and they are crucial contributors to agri-food value chains as farmers, businesswomen, entrepreneurs and community leaders. They are central elements to ensuring food security and nutrition in their families and com... قراءة المزيدmunities. However, they suffer from a higher vulnerability to food insecurity in relation to their male counterparts: as smallholder farmers, they produce the majority of the food in their countries, but few own the land they cultivate, and many don’t have access to public services and lack basic rights. At the same time, removal of forests, wetlands and wild eco-systems for annual cropping, removes habitats from which women source foods, medicines, energy and untapped biodiversity for future opportunities. Finally, women’s voices have largely been neglected in COVID-19 decision-making processes due to an enduring underrepresentation in senior positions in key fields of medicine and politics. This implies that the unique contribution of women to the regeneration of food systems in the post-COVID world remains largely unexplored. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the vulnerability of countless women across the world, yet they continue to be fundamental pillars in the transition to sustainable and resilient food systems, capable of producing enough food for all. The Catholic Church’s teaching has long recognized the equal dignity of men and women, especially with regards to their roles in public life and seeks to enhance their participation in processes addressing their exclusion from public life. Therefore, the focus of this dialogue was to i) listen to the injustices and challenges faced by women in food systems, ii) connect experiences of organizations, institutions and actors working to build up the capacity of women in food systems, and iii) inspire holistic proposals to promote the participation, representation and leadership of women in rebuilding resilient food systems and improving relations with others and with the planet. قراءة القليل

The first session focused on the challenges and opportunities faced by female rural workers and small-scale farmers around the world. It featured presentations by Daniela Fumarola, Confederal Secretary of Italian Confederation of Trade Unions (CISL) and Ndaya Beltchika, Lead Technical Specialist for Gender and Social Inclusion at International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), who stressed the critical role of women in food production and the insufficient recognition of their contributions. The absence of specific data to measure the contributions of women in food systems, as well as t... قراءة المزيدheir specific challenges and needs (e.g. their exclusion from necessary productive resources like financial instruments, technology, training, etc.), places them at greater risk of being left behind by development processes. Speakers affirmed the need for desegregated data to measure and give visibility to the work done by women (both formal and informal), so as to target national policies and budgets to their special needs and support their leadership in ensuring food security. Following this discussion, Romana Koech of the AVSI Foundation in Kenya, Betty Rose Aguti and Musamba Mubanga from Caritas Uganda and Zambia respectively, brought the real-life testimonies of women in these countries, who are nurturing the development of their communities through their work in food production. These stories showcased how the “three Cs” aggravating present-day global hunger - Conflict, COVID, Climate Change - can be overcome with other, more positive “Cs”: Care for life, Culture of life, Community of life. The second session was centred around the contribution of women to food security through their participation in international political processes. The discussion was opened by Daniela Ropelato, Director of the Doctoral School of the Sophia University Institute, who asserted the “culture of care” (Laudato Si’, 231) as the necessary paradigm for holistic and collective action. Engaging political processes relating to food systems through the lens of care, would allow for the appreciation of the complementarity between men and women in political processes and forge necessary alliances in decision-making. Afterwards, Lola Castro, Regional Director for Southern Africa, World Food Programme (WFP), urged audiences to move beyond the interpretation of women as victims of an unsustainable, unjust and fragile food system, and recognize them as “agents of change” and leaders in the reformulation of systems. She reiterated the need to formally recognize their contributions across all stages of food systems, and enhance their participation in political processes destined to shape them. She stressed the importance of increasing the involvement of women in early prevention and response strategies to food crises, and increasing their representation in leadership positions. The panel was completed by Gabriella Arrigo, Head of International Relations at the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Susie Snyder, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) who gave testimonies of successful international cooperation projects involving women in leadership positions in fields normally reserved to men. The novelty of their presentations was the relation between space missions and nuclear disarmament to the promotion of sustainable and inclusive food systems, particularly through the collection of data and the promotion of peace. The final session featured presentations by Marcela Villarreal, Director partnerships, advocacy and capacity development, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Prof. Vera Zamagni, Professor of Economic History, University of Bologna; and Prof. Linda Ghisoni, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, on the contribution of women to sustainable and inclusive food systems as household leaders. While Dr. Villareal reiterated the need to recognize and enhance the role of women in food systems through national policies and incentives, and increase their participation throughout decision-making processes, Prof. Vera Zamagni and Linda Ghisoni focused on the role of women as educators for a new “culture of care”. They explored the work of women in educating future generations on a better use of agricultural resources, nurturing the integral development of communities, and transferring knowledge in support of resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems. This work, often unrecognized in public spheres, should also be supported through political and economic measures. The session was closed by Catalina Hinojosa López, from the Agriculture and Justice Village of the Economy of Francesco, who gave an inspiring testimony of her experiences with indigenous women in Ecuador and their role in perpetuating the buen vivir philosophy, by transferring knowledge to future generations about how to live in harmony with their communities and their environment. Working the land to ensure food for all, while caring for the earth and its people is possible. قراءة القليل

Speakers affirmed the need for desegregated data to measure and give visibility to the work done by women (both formal and informal), so as to target national policies and budgets to their special needs and support their leadership in ensuring food security.

Speakers affirmed the need to formally recognize women's contributions across all stages of food systems, and enhance their participation in political processes destined to shape them. Of special importance is the involvement of women in early prevention and response strategies to food crises, and increasing their representation in leadership positions.

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The main objective of the HKH dialogue was to bring together a range of stakeholders – academics, policy makers, practitioners, businesses, and communities – to discuss how the revitalization and promotion of ethnic cuisines can contribute to healthier, more sustainable, and equitable food systems. The aim was to discuss key research and management issues regarding ethnic cuisines, and the policy environment necessary to promote and sustain them, which in turn would ensure a pathway to sustainable food systems, nature positive food production, and equitable livelihoods. On the science fron... قراءة المزيدt, the event deliberated on: - Prospects of science and research around ethnic cuisines, how they could influence nature positive production, use of food for health and nutrition, identification of priority future research areas around ethnic cuisines, and healthy agroecosystem management for the mountains - Changing perspectives on ethnic cuisines and associated knowledge given rapid economic development, changes in lifestyle and food cultures, and possible actions to push the agenda of a healthy and safer food culture in the mountains On the practice front, the event deliberated on: - The role of home gardens in local cuisine, the role of communities in maintaining home gardens as repositories of diversity, and the role of women in managing home gardens for better dietary diversity and nutrition security of their families. - The essence of local food and its relation to effective utilization of food, minimization of food loss, acknowledgement of local knowledge on nutrition, prospects of local food in informal food markets and the evolution of future smart foods, and how to support local food movements for better dietary awareness in the mountains - Food based livelihood opportunities and value chains, and how ethnic cuisines can be integrated into businesses so that the health of farms and economic wellbeing of mountain communities are not compromised On the partnerships and policy front, the event deliberated on: - Current partnerships between governments and other institutions in promoting ethnic cuisines, nutritious food and healthy diets, and how research and development institutions and government agencies can work together - The need for policy innovations to promote food diversity in an era of homogenization of food markets and food system transformation, and enabling mechanisms necessary to support local food, local knowledge and local farming systems for better dietary choices for mountain communities The HKH dialogue on “Revitalizing ethnic cuisine for improved nutrition, nature positive food production, and equitable livelihoods” was appropriate as we identified in consultation with our partners that preservation and promotion of ethnic cuisines is one action that is well-aligned with the objective of sustainable food systems, and that awareness of the value of ethnic cuisines can help transform the way the world produces, consumes, and thinks about food. قراءة القليل

The main findings and takeaways from the keynote presentations and discussions are summarised below: Ethnic cuisines are immune boosters: Ethnic cuisines are healthy and nutritious, especially fermented foods, which are rich in antioxidants and have many other immunity boosting properties. Ethnic communities use traditional knowledge to prepare the food from locally available ingredients, making them diverse in terms of their organoleptic characteristics. Ethnic cuisines diversify food systems: Ethnic cuisines use a variety of ingredients –conventional agricultural crops, livestock and fishe... قراءة المزيدs, and non-conventional food resources such as wild edible plants, insects, animal sourced food, and neglected and underutilized species. Ethnic cuisines revitalize and sustain diverse food source and ecosystems, and help tackle the homogenization of production systems and loss of agrobiodiversity resources. The key aspect here is that ethnic cuisines are a reflection of diverse ‘food systems’ and not ‘farming systems’. Documentation and research of ethnic cuisines in urgent: The diversity of food and food habits in the HKH is immense, but there is poor documentation of this diversity and assessments of the nutritional values and efficiency of several non-conventional foods and cuisine ingredients, including aspects of food safety. Traditional food systems are already transformative but require recognition and support: Cross-learning, scaling out, and partnerships are required to strengthen local cuisines and local food systems. There is a need for agricultural policies to shift focus from intensive agriculture to diversifying the food system, food ecosystem and food web, and for recognition of these spaces as globally and nationally important agricultural heritage sites. Home gardens are key to sustaining ethnic cuisines: Home gardens can improve access to food in marginalized areas, and can ensure household food security. Home and kitchen gardens may not be new ideas but they need greater recognition and dedicated support from governments. Home gardens are not only repositories of daily food ingredients, but also of local seeds and genetic resources. They can also serve as spaces to experiment on future food crops, and to diversify local culinary knowledge. Ethnic cuisines link communities to business: Communities can meaningfully engage in food-based value chains and the hospitality industry, promoting diversified food commodities for consumers and markets. This appropriately places local cuisines in the era of technological development and the consumer-driven food industry and helps communities enhance their livelihood options. Engagement of youth and technological innovations is crucial in revitalizing ethnic cuisines: It is vital to involve the youth through programmes such as fellowships to promote local cuisines, and ensure conservation of traditional knowledge and agrobiodiversity. Likewise, use of appropriate technology across all food system actions can enhance the volume, quality, and branding of ethnic cuisines. The GESI perspective is important: Women are key actors in food systems, and ethnic cuisines are important pathways to address not just food and nutrition security, but also structural inequalities based on gender and social identities. Speakers and participants highlighted the need for more research partnerships to highlight the nutritional values of local and ethnic cuisines so as to promote them as healthy and nutritious foods. They also called for greater support for the maintenance of local food systems, especially home gardens, for improving household food security. قراءة القليل

In his keynote presentation, Jyoti Prasad Tamang from Sikkim Central University highlighted how people in the HKH region prepare and consume about 1,000 region-specific fermented foods and more than 3,000 ethnic non-fermented foods. Ethnic and traditional cuisines, with their simple preparation and ingredients sourced straight from farms and forests are a good and ready source of nutritious food. Many of the fermented foods prepared and consumed across HKH have high nutraceutical properties. Therefore, promotion of such foods can be beneficial for health and nutrition. Wild edible plants also ... قراءة المزيدhave very high nutritional value and are part of many ethnic cuisines. However, there is a need for additional research and scientific evidence on nutritional and functional benefits of ethnic cuisines and their diverse ingredients, including research around toxicology and food safety. Home gardens must be promoted at the household level as they serve as a reservoir of diverse ingredients for ethnic cuisines, as local seed banks and a ready source of safe and nutritious food. The diversified crops, plants, and livestock in home gardens are crucial and accessible resources for providing year-round food supply for the household, and surplus which can bring income to the family, thereby supplementing the livelihoods of poor rural households. Further, there is a need to promote sustainable food production, soil health management and organic production, so that the ingredients of these ethnic cuisines are free of harmful chemicals. قراءة القليل

Many people have become health conscious and are opting for ethnic cuisines to boost their immune system. People have been drawn to the nutritional and therapeutic properties of ethnic cuisines. For example, finger millet is gluten free, fermented milk contains plenty of probiotics, and fermented soybean (kinema) is antioxidant and prevents osteoporosis. Ethnic foods are also easy to prepare, inexpensive, affordable and sustainable. The consumption of local food/ethnic cuisines for taste and nutrition is also growing. As one speaker highlighted, highland barley has become a popular menu item i... قراءة المزيدn most parts of Tibet. People in Tibet have become more conscious about nutrition and are shifting their dietary focus from grains and rice to dairy products, fruits, and vegetables. Awareness of the ingredients and their health benefits triggers sustainable consumption of fresh and unadulterated food. Families in rural areas manage home gardens and they play an important role in meeting the nutritional needs of women, men, and children, especially in these areas. Young people should be targeted for raising awareness on ethnic cuisines and local foods to ensure the long-term viability of local food production systems, value addition, promotion, and sustainability. On the demand side, it is crucial to build trust and confidence among consumers through scientific research on the values of these foods, ensuring hygiene and food safety, and highlighting the health and environmental benefits. Ethnic cuisines can replace food imports and promote gastronomy tourism, contributing to the local economy. Product diversification through research and development of ethnic cuisines can motivate consumers to consume safe and healthy food regularly. With the market dominated mostly by processed foods, there has been a decrease in the consumption of ethnic foods. Therefore, dietary awareness and food literacy programmes are necessary to rekindle interest in ethnic foods. Value addition through developing good recipes and promoting ethnic food in local cafés can also reinforce sustainable consumption. The way we consume food and our eating habits also determines how food is assimilated. Traditional customs such as eating food with our hands, washing hands and mouth before and after eating, sitting cross legged on the floor while eating are aspects of dietary rules and etiquette in many communities that are said to have good health benefits. قراءة القليل

One of the speakers highlighted how agriculture policies in the HKH are mostly farm focused rather than food focused. The focus has been on simplifying farming systems for enhanced production and economic returns rather than for diversifying food systems for enhanced ecosystem services and food diversity. Promotion of ethnic cuisines is necessary to promote nature positive production as they are directly linked to the management of traditional genetic resources on-farm and wider food sources in the natural landscape. Ethnic cuisines have always been associated with sustainable production and m... قراءة المزيدanagement of the natural landscape and this needs to be recognized. Hence, there is a need to diversify food production systems not only to enrich food and dietary diversity but also to reduce vulnerability to production environment and avoid climatic and market risks. Revival of ethnic cuisines has become crucial in protecting the cultural heritage of communities, thereby protecting the whole agroecosystem. Ingredients for ethnic cuisines are often locally sourced, thus making them adaptive to climatic shocks. This can be promoted as a way to adapt to climate change. Home gardens, with their diverse and rich composition of plant and animal species, are also an integral part of local food systems in the HKH. Hence, they become ideal sites for promotion and management of genetic material in a sustainable manner. Technological support with regard to various methods of house farming such as vertical farming, rooftop farming, pot farming, and hydroponics, can support families who have little or no land. These local production system are mostly default organic as they utilize kitchen waste, animal manure and other organic residues. Shifting cultivation landscapes are a good reservoir of diverse crops, both cultivated and non-cultivated, which enhances in-situ conservation of underutilized species. Research and development of indigenous seeds, local food products, traditional farming systems and improved diets for communities need to be a priority for the region. There is also a need for agricultural policies to shift their focus from intensive agriculture to diversifying the food system, food ecosystem and food web, so that we can reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Revival of ethnic cuisines and engagement of indigenous communities in maintaining land resources for diversified food is only possible through incentive-based, and culturally-driven conservation. قراءة القليل

Ethnic foods from the Himalayas have gained popularity in the global food market. Product diversification and proper branding with nutritional and therapeutic values can also promote the culture and heritage associated with such food items. Ethnic communities can highlight food as an important aspect of their cultural heritage and attract tourists, which can help them diversify livelihood options. Enterprises around ethnic cuisines also need to be encouraged, which can enhance income opportunities, boost the local economy, and advance equitable livelihoods. The ethnic food market can grow thro... قراءة المزيدugh product diversification and proper branding (for example, dog chews made from traditional hard cheese, and cardamom masala from the HKH region). SAARC Business Association of Home Based Workers (SABAH) Nepal has brought together ethnic communities, their food products and cuisines together, contemporized their presentation and promoted these cuisines through enterprises, which not only contributes to the conservation of traditional cuisines and food system knowledge, but also support the livelihoods of small, farm-based women communities. Tourism packages and homestays serving ethnic food can also be an option for livelihood diversification. Ethnic food based enterprises can also help place indigenous communities as important strategic partners in the food value chain, not just as producers of the ingredients. Government-led programmes should also prioritize mechanisms for engaging small farmers and small family-based farming in agribusiness and food-based value chains. قراءة القليل

To build resilience, the focus must be on food systems and not on farming systems. The food system incorporates wider food resources beyond the farm, for example from forests, wetlands, and home gardens – and therefore spreads risk and improves the ability to cope with shocks and stress. Future partnerships between the government and development partners must prioritize sustainable food production, food safety, reducing food waste, improving food value chains, and revitalization of neglected and underutilized crop species. Government and non-government organizations, with the common goal of ... قراءة المزيدimproved dietary diversity, nutrition, and health, should work together to revitalize ethnic cuisines and diverse food systems. There is a need from all levels of stakeholders, especially from policy makers, to support the growth of community-based food system initiatives and food policies that prioritize food systems and value chains in a holistic manner. Food and food cultures have evolved with human civilization. Safeguarding ethnic cuisines enhances the traditional and cultural identities of ethnic and indigenous communities in the HKH region and encourages them to conserve diverse food production systems. Preservation of ethnic cuisines also helps reinforce cultural identities, empowering these communities to create resilient food systems. The nutritional and health benefits of ethnic fermented foods provides good prospects for future foods. Strengthening the food value chain is key in bringing mountain food products to the market, which can ultimately enhance livelihoods of mountain farmers and producers. By buying directly and locally, we can also help build the resilience of women, small farmers, and vulnerable populations. Youth who have gained experience and skills from working abroad and returned due to COVID-19 could be engaged in revitalizing ethnic cuisines and addressing issues of hygiene and food safety. The young generation should be encouraged to take part in revitalizing ethnic cuisine and conserving agro diversity and associated traditional knowledge. Capacity support to communities, including extension and inputs services are crucial. Protecting ethnic cuisines helps in maintaining local food production systems and agrobiodiversity, along with long term management of ecosystem services. Conservation of ethnic cuisines feeds into the conservation of agrobiodiversity, and proper management of soil, water, forests, biodiversity, culture, traditions, and economy. Seed banks, ex-situ conservation, and data management and documentation of genetic resources for food and agriculture is closely linked to the revitalization of ethnic cuisines. Protection of ethnic cuisines also enriches the tradition/cultural identities of many ethnic communities, which can further encourage them to better manage on farm diversity. Furthermore, diversified food production systems not only lead to better diets but also increase agrobiodiversity, and reduce vulnerability to environmental, climatic or market challenges and shocks. قراءة القليل

Enhancing resilience and productivity of irrigated agriculture through the WEF Nexus Key question: How do we build more resilient food and livelihood systems while protecting critical water sources, biodiversity, and other ecosystem services while satisfying growing water demand? There are tradeoffs between the use of water and the use of energy for agriculture and other purposes. It is important to bring in biodiversity and ecosystem in this challenge and try to improve the resilience of productivity of irrigated agriculture through water energy and food Nexus. It is significant to understand... قراءة المزيد the impact of climate change on the availability of water and food production while addressing food security in irrigated agriculture. Climate change in Pakistan especially in the Indus basin is bringing erratic rainfall patterns. Climate change is shifting the water availability, for instance, unprecedented rainfall, increase in temperature is changing crop water requirement, that affects crop maturity, crop growing is shortening, often monsoon starting earlier or later, etc. There is a lot of uncertainty in terms of water availability in terms of temperature increase during day and night and for both Rabi and Kharif seasons. Therefore, we need to increase the productivity of irrigated agriculture by effectively utilizing the land and water resources while ensuring that alternative energy sources are not being misused. The Government of Pakistan is promoting solar power and extraction of water from the ground but there is a need to do some research and determine how this would increase productivity and improve the food systems. There is a role of solar panels and solar electricity that is not only beneficial in pumping out the groundwater but also have a significant role in pumping out saline water which is particularly used in Sindh with scarp tubewells. Probably there are ways to put control how much water can be extracted from freshwater areas. Around 1.5 million tubewells are operational in Pakistan yet there is no data on the extraction of water and stress water zones. A better approach would be to set and identify the stress groundwater zones, and allocation of each zona needs to be agreed upon with the community and relevant stakeholders so that the people are aware of the fact the water level is depleting. Community-based engagement of stakeholders in managing aquifers and groundwater is extremely important to address the availability of water issues for productive agriculture. Moreover, a systematic approach is needed with much more information for balancing tradeoffs. While making a decision, consider a link between managing the canal and groundwater, and determine the impacts and implications of canal risk management. Canal management is an intervention tool, for recharging groundwater. Conservative water management is important that is already happening in Pakistan however, there is a need to further improve the traditional water management to adopt a water balancing system approach and to understand the availability of resources to be used efficiently. In summary, a systematic approach is required to improve productivity by integrating packages that include pumping, storage, efficient irrigation systems, tools, technologies/techniques/practices, etc. to increase productivity–isolated solution does not work sustainably. There is also a need to realize limits- the system is already touching limits against the growing demands - need to prioritize science and technology. Tools and models shall not be used only for decision-making but also to encourage discussion with stakeholders through effective participation. It could be a difficult process, but to tackle the complex problems difficult solutions need to be proposed. Existing systems need to be updated and parallel to that introduce the latest technologies. Also within irrigated agriculture, water counting and water balancing are required, to identify hotspots of water productivity, and do more analysis of why water productivity for some crops in one area is more than others that will help in addressing the issues. قراءة القليل

Community strategies to operationalise equitable WEF nexus approaches Key question: How can we promote equity and inclusion in WEF nexus governance to create opportunities for transformation towards more just and sustainable food, water and energy systems? Various strategies adopted at community levels can be scaled up to promote inclusivity and equitability in the WEF nexus. Some small-scale programs can be expanded to achieve the desired results. For instance, a project in Punjab that aimed to develop the capacity of women involved in rice production by including them in every step of the cr... قراءة المزيدop’s value chain can be implemented at the national level to increase the representation of women in the market value chains. Enterprises can be established to develop the capacity of women in pre-and post-harvest activities. Moreover, market infrastructures can be developed to support the increased participation of women in the value chains. Female extension agents can be employed to increase access of female producers to technology and market information. Another project that equipped female agricultural producers with high-efficiency irrigation systems (HIES) successfully increased their crop yields and encouraged the adoption of more efficient technologies. However, the success of this project was not sustainable due to constraints such as lack of resources/capital and inadequate support from families and government institutions. Thus, to ensure the success of such a project on a larger scale, an expansion in credit facilities for women and other minority groups and implementation of policies that promote the adoption of innovative technologies among the marginalized groups are needed. Employing ICT is a recommended approach to increasing equitability in the WEF nexus. Barriers such as mobility constraints, lack of access to information and technologies, lack of credit services can be addressed by using ICT tools in disseminating information, increasing communications, and providing credit and technical support. Increasing the participation of women and other minority groups in political bodies can increase their representation in decision-making processes and can ultimately include their perspectives in the WEF nexus. However, several challenges exist in increasing the participation of marginalized communities in decision-making roles. Reforms need to be introduced to eliminate structural and institutional barriers that prevent the participation of these groups in decision-making bodies. Moreover, awareness and educational campaigns need to address the gender stereotypes that are deeply rooted in our societies. In conclusion, a bottom-down approach needs to be adopted to include the perspectives of groups ignored in the WEF nexus. However, success can only be achieved when such measures are accompanied by policies and reforms that address the existing challenges that marginalized communities face in accessing equal economic, social, and political opportunities. Several steps need to be taken by public and private institutions to increase inclusivity in the WEF nexus. Firstly, a lot of government projects such as social safety net programs target larger farmers. . The government institutions need to partner with NGOs and other organizations working with underrepresented communities such as women, small farmers, and other marginalized groups, to design interventions specifically for these population groups. Secondly, the national and provincial policies developed are often generic and not inclusive. Moreover, a top to bottom approach is adopted in the implementation processes which ignores representation from such marginalized groups. The government needs to work with research institutions and organizations working in the field to help them design policies that address the key challenges faced by various groups. The policy formulation process needs to be made more demand-driven, in that key stakeholders should be involved in the formulation of policies, to ensure that the issues of all the relevant stakeholders are addressed. Thirdly, the private sector can be involved to promote equitability in the WEF nexus. قراءة القليل

Socio-Economic synergies and benefits of WEF Nexus Key question: What steps needs to be taken to assess the benefits and trade-offs across sectors, especially from a socio-economic point of view (employment, health, migration, equity, GDP, etc)? a) Population: Pakistan has a population growth of 2.9%, three years back demand of wheat was 25 million tonnes whereas now it is 29 M-t. Agricultural land area is shrinking, cropping intensity has increased but still, it is low as compared to other countries in the region. Increased cropping intensity has resulted in the deterioration of soil health. ... قراءة المزيدThe problem of population growth needs to be analysed from the demand and supply sides. On the demand side, a large population will need more water and more food. On the supply side, in Pakistan food is exported and imported at the same time. Before 2013 Pakistan was a net exporter of food now it is a net importer. Some necessary foods are now being imported which were produced within the country in the past. At the macro scale, it is important to keep food and water balance. To address the challenge of population growth, we need to take on board religious leadership. b) Migration: Scarcity of water leads to migration. For example, in rural areas of Baluchistan Karezes have dried and people are unable to grow their food. Scarcity of water also leads to loss of livelihoods. Some families in rural areas have installed solar irrigation pumps but it solves the problem to only some extent. Though installation of tube wells has helped with agriculture, it has resulted in the lowering of the groundwater table. This has led to migration from water stressed areas. c) Urbanization: Due to unemployment in the rural areas, people are migrating to cities and cities have been expanding. Thus, causing food and income insecurity. Migration to urban centers can be both voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary migration to cities takes place in search of better livelihood. Involuntary migration to cities can take place as a result of climate change events like drought and flood. In any case migration to cities gives rise to challenges of overcrowding, water scarcity, and solid waste management. d) Alternative Energy: The cost of lifting water for more than 130 meters is huge, there is a dire need to make sure that energy requirements should be met. Energy security can be achieved through the promotion of renewable energy. Rising energy demand in wake of population growth can be met by the government through subsidizing solar energy for farmers. At the same time abandoning electricity as an alternative source of energy to solar energy should be made mandatory by the government for farmers adopting solar energy. Focus on renewable energy should be prioritized through favorable legislation and required support for the farmers. e) Water Resource Development: Investments should be made in water resource development. Previously, water issues were managed through the community. Now the community has been disrupted by migration. Water harvesting can be used to improve water availability and reduce water wastage. Vulnerable water stressed areas should be targeted at the watershed level, watershed management should be focused through the use of remote sensing. f) Value Chain Development: Value added agriculture should be focused to improve the GDP contribution of the agriculture sector. Industrialization for value chain development should be done in rural areas to stop migration from rural areas. g) Water Storage: Along with water efficiency, we need to improve water storage by building small and large dams. Increased water storage capacity will lead to an increase in water availability which will result in food security and livelihood opportunities. h) Investment in Agriculture Sector: Pakistan’s investment in the agriculture sector is the lowest in this region. R&D can focus on energy efficient crop varieties and the use of renewable energy. Institutions working in silos is one major barrier in addressing above mentioned challenges effectively through research. For research to bear fruits practically institutions need to effectively cooperate and collaborate قراءة القليل

During the discussion subject of "Sustainable and renewable energy for food production", the participant had no significant divergent, only caveat water to manage groundwater before we move to solar pumps. Participants identified the following divergences during the discussion subject of "Climate change impacts on water and food security". • Inefficient and disparity in water pricing system make it difficult for Pakistan to sustainably manage its irrigation system. There is a serious need to revise water pricing and to have a groundwater policy to address the issue of acute water shortage an... قراءة المزيدd manage the water needs of all sectors including water for the environment. • Poverty and limited access to resources often coupled with small landholdings is another big challenge identified in the discussion. For this purpose, improved access to resources along with a well-established support system to support climate-smart agriculture for enhanced food and nutrition security in Pakistan. • Lack of coordination or limited coordination between different departments at the provincial and federal level is another major divergence in sustaining food and water security under changing climate revealed in the discussion. In order to improve coordination, a multi-stakeholder approach may be adopted giving fair chance to all stakeholders to present their point of view and make a consensus to make agriculture resilient. • High use of water for irrigation agriculture has become a major issue challenging the sustainability of water systems as well as food security in Pakistan. Farmers need to be educated for improved and cost-effective solutions to enhance water and land productivity and enhance their resilience to climate change. The group which discussed Policy coherence, implementation and institutional coordination in water, food, energy and climate change that operationalize the WEF nexus: Contrary to the common belief, rapid urbanization and mushroom growth in housing societies are one of the most serious threats to the water, energy, and food nexus. Housing societies are not only encroaching the arable lands but are also having adverse effects on water utilization. Ring-fencing the agricultural land to save it from urbanization is a critical step for ensuring sustainable agriculture and water. A group that discussed the topic Enhancing the performance of water systems across multiple sectors highlighted that the systems are faced with the issues of poor revenue collection ultimately leading to the unsustainability of the institutions. One way to manage these gaps is to think about reallocation of water according to the “willingness to pay principle”. The use of secondary treated wastewater in agriculture may be a potential option to reduce stress on the groundwater. Similarly, the saline water/drainage effluent offers a great potential to reduce the gap between water demand and supply. Developing a database is essential. However, it would never be enough. Therefore, there is a need to manage water systems with certain uncertainties. Likewise, complex technologies may provide solutions to management problems at a large scale but the importance of simple technologies cannot be ignored for small scale and community run operations. While considering the value of water there is a need to prioritize according to its use. If the value of water is estimated properly, the environment would underpin all other sectors. There is a need to explore other solutions such as the promotion of recreational activities and eco-friendly tourism on the properties of irrigation systems. The group which discussed topic advancing technical WEF models, tools and framework for decision making at multiple scales had different viewpoints about how important pursuing WEF models would be. Some discussants felt that in many instances current hydrological or economic models would be sufficient to address most issues. Moreover, the broader WEF models have not yet really led to impacts on very many topics, so the need to demonstrate the power of WEF models was not always seen uniformly by members of the discussion. While less discussion addressed potential benefits, it seemed that using only narrow, discipline-based research approaches, solutions to the complex problems posed in water, energy, and food security topics could often be missed. These possibilities can best be understood using WEF models in comparison to more traditional single-discipline approaches. Community group discussion: Marginalized groups, primarily women are often ignored in the WEF nexus due to its top-down approach. Women and other minority groups are usually left out from the decision-making processes at the community/provincial/national level. While at the household level, women are responsible for managing food, energy and the water supply, their representation on decision-making bodies such as the village council is very limited. The deeply ingrained patriarchal social norms act as barriers for women and other groups to participate in the bureaucratic system that is responsible for making decisions related to the WEF nexus. This fact is verified from the low levels of representation of women and other minority groups on political bodies. The inadequate representation of these groups on such forums limits their ability to effectively voice their concerns, and thus, they are neglected in the management of the WEF nexus actions. قراءة القليل

Advancing technical WEF models, tools and frameworks for decision making at multiple scales Key question: How can WEF nexus models/tools facilitate new understanding of interdependencies and trade-offs in the WEF nexus, as well as foster data sharing and enhanced decision-making in the region? All participants agreed on the following action points. a) There is a need for a comprehensive review of the state of the art in WEF modelling, which seems to be sparse and partial given our discussions. Although there are models on water, energy, and food subjects (economic models, hydrological models, ... قراءة المزيدcrop models, etc.), they are disciplinary and do not provide adequate, integrated insights and solutions. Hence, fully integrated WEF models are needed for synergy and trade-off analyses, and to assess water-energy-food interdependencies in an integrated way. Currently, many organizations are working on developing multidisciplinary models with a system approach. However, WEF models are still too often academic exercises and, therefore, the implementation of WEF models for policy and investment purposes is limited. b) The discussants suggested that the focus in the coming years should be on tying research organizations together to reach across silos in research as well as government organizations. For example, IFPRI and IWMI collaboration in partnership with local/national partners can help to foster the collaboration of departments of agriculture and irrigation. The discussants raised this point because WEF is a nexus approach, whereas most organizations in Pakistan are working in silos that are often built around individual disciplines. International research institutions can organize dialogues across all stakeholders, arrange awareness campaigns on WEF models, and organize training sessions to showcase the importance of working in an integrated way. c) The discussants agreed that there should be a focus in coming years on selected examples, like solar tubewells, which provide a connection between hydropower, irrigation and even food security in the Indus basin. Examples such as solar tubewells will demonstrate the value of more comprehensive WEF models. Some discussants were of the view that solar irrigation can result in overexploitation of groundwater aquifers and hence question the sustainability of groundwater use, whereas other discussants thought that such issues will provide an opportunity to integrate different institutes to address sustainable use of resources. The group concluded that our institutions could engage in developing WEF models further and can assist in designing protocols for data collection and management (including sharing of data) It will not be enough however just to develop models and protocols, but the capacity enhancement and policy dialogues will be equally important activities that our organizations can take on. For example, building the capacity of local academic and research institutes to work with WEF models, so that they can understand and implement them, will add to the sustainability of these efforts. To successfully achieve this capacity enhancement, ongoing stakeholder and policy dialogues on the usefulness of WEF models as applied to critical issues in the country are needed. As this process proceeds, our organizations can assist in identifying barriers to legal and governance issues that limit the implementation of WEF models. Finally, this session identified the silos that exist and limit the usefulness of WEF models at present, so our organizations need to work together to maximize the impacts of outputs derived from modeling and data management exercises. Thus, coordination on the international research side is also required. قراءة القليل

Water security is imposing serious challenges for the social and economic development of Pakistan, listed as the 5th most climate-vulnerable country in the world. Extreme climatic variability (drought/floods) has highlighted the need to manage water resources more sustainably in Pakistan. Being an agrarian country of 220 million people, water resources play a vital role in serving a large population and sustaining the ecosystems. More than 90% of all withdrawals of the available freshwater resources of the Indus Basin are being used for the agriculture sector. Groundwater exploitation due to s... قراءة المزيدurface water scarcity, unsustainable irrigation and agricultural practices, and industrial effluents are affecting water quality and worsening the overall health of the basin and its ecosystems. The Indus is vulnerable to changes either due to climate change or due to transboundary conflicts at both national and inter-provincial levels. Groundwater has played a major role in augmenting 60% of irrigation supplies through the privately-installed 1.5 million plus tube-wells for crop production in the basin. There is little credible scientific information available on groundwater monitoring, database development, regulation, environmental implications, and management. The situation gets more severe when tube-wells start tapping into brackish groundwater, accelerating the secondary salinization of irrigated soils, which damages crops and reduces yields. In this regard, groundwater demand management is still a big unknown. Conventional market approaches – of water rights and scarcity prices – are either too unwieldy or too unpopular to implement, while a ‘command & control’ approach has limited effectiveness and very high transaction (implementation) costs. Community-led groundwater management has also had limited success. That leaves us with the ‘nexus approach’ – using energy and food policies to shape pumping behaviour. The Government of Pakistan has developed several national policies for various sectors including water, agriculture, energy, climate and environment. Presently, there is a lack of coherence between the developed national policies for water, food security, energy, and climate change which hinders implementation on the ground in Pakistan. The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) challenges highlight a wider array of issues surrounding smallholder resilience and the complexity of pressures being felt. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted with devastating effect how vulnerable many livelihoods are and how few assets poor farmers (and poor urban workers) have to fall back on. Climate change will exacerbate and multiply the potential impact of future shocks. This regional dialogue therefore seeks to unpack the questions: how can food systems be localized for regional benefits including trade and transformed in a water-constrained Pakistan in a manner that acknowledges WEF nexus linkages? The UN Food Systems Summit Pakistan dialogue highlighted eight key thematic areas on which participants were required to engage in an interactive manner that allowed for small group discussion, collective brainstorming, and agenda setting. The thematic areas covered by breakout groups were: 1) Sustainable and renewable energy for food production; 2) Climate Change impacts on water and food security; 3) Policy coherence, implementation and institutional coordination in water, food, energy and climate change that operationalize the WEF nexus; 4) Enhancing performance of water systems across multiple sectors (agriculture, domestic, industry and environment) demands; 5) Advancing technical WEF models, tools and frameworks for decision making at multiple scales; 6) Enhancing resilience and productivity of productivity of irrigated agriculture through the WEF Nexus; 7) Community strategies to operationalise equitable WEF nexus approaches; and 8) Socio-Economic synergies and benefits of WEF Nexus. Expected key outcome of this dialogue was getting involved and sharing the views of Pakistan stakeholders to better understand WEF nexus under a changing climate and guidance to develop a more climate-resilient water and land solutions in the Indus Basin. قراءة القليل

A holistic approach and reliable database on water resources and their use across Pakistan is the key to achieving food, water, and energy security in the fifth most climate-vulnerable country in the world, participants of the UN Food Systems Summit Independent Dialogue (Pakistan) have reported. The Dialogue highlighted the need for transformative approaches to promote equity and inclusion in water energy food (WEF) nexus governance for sustainable water, energy and food systems. Other outcomes from the discussion was the need for a substantial increase in research and development funds for th... قراءة المزيدe agriculture sector through active dialogues with donors and development partners. Dialogue participants emphasized improving policy coherence among key ministries through better inter-sectoral coordination and capacity building and raising awareness among researchers, policymakers, government officials, and farmers about the benefits of WEF nexus modelling approaches to optimise agriculture production in the Indus Basin. Furthermore, the participants laid stress on the need for sizable interdisciplinary projects to realise true systems transformation and WEF nexus operationalization through pilot projects in the Indus Basin of Pakistan that hosts one of the world’s largest contiguous irrigation networks. The objective of the dialogue was to discuss how a shared vision for water, energy and food security could be achieved in a changing climate for Pakistan. Research shows that water security is posing serious challenges for the social and economic development of Pakistan, an agrarian country of 220 million people, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 100 participants from 12 countries had shared rich and diverse views on key bottlenecks in implementing the operationalization of WEF nexus in the context of Indus Basin. It was agreed that There is an urgent need for promoting inter-sectoral cooperation through evidence based information to ensure water-food-energy security and environmental sustainability for food system transformation in Pakistan. The event provided an opportunity for in-depth dialogues to take place between diverse actors from across food systems, development partners, government, think tanks, universities, and international organisations. The Pakistan dialogue highlighted eight key thematic areas around which participants engaged in group discussions; 1. Sustainable and renewable energy for food production Key question: How can we sustainably produce more food in the region using low greenhouse gas energy sources? 2. Climate change impacts on water and food security Key question: How can we sustainably enhance food security without compromising water security in the context of climate change? 3. Policy coherence, implementation and institutional coordination in water, food, energy and climate change that operationalize the WEF nexus Key question: What practical steps can/should be taken to ensure policy coherence and institutional coordination to improve water, energy and food security in the region? 4. Enhancing performance of water systems across multiple sectors (agriculture, domestic, industry and environment) demands Key question: How do we enhance resilience of water systems to meet the competing demands of multi-sectors (agriculture, domestic, industry and environment)? 5. Advancing technical WEF models, tools and frameworks for decision making at multiple scales Key question: How can WEF nexus models/tools facilitate new understanding of interdependencies and trade-offs in the WEF nexus, as well as foster data sharing and enhanced decision-making in the region? 6. Enhancing resilience and productivity of irrigated agriculture through the WEF Nexus Key question: How do we build more resilient food and livelihood systems while protecting critical water sources, biodiversity, and other ecosystem services while satisfying growing water demand? 7. Community strategies to operationalise equitable WEF nexus approaches Key question: How can we promote equity and inclusion in WEF nexus governance to create opportunities for transformation towards more just and sustainable food, water and energy systems? 8. Socio-Economic synergies and benefits of WEF Nexus Key question: What steps needs to be taken to assess the benefits and trade-offs across sectors, especially from a socio-economic point of view (employment, health, migration, equity, GDP, etc)? Finally, the dialogue provided a knowledge platform to better understand WEF nexus under a changing climate and guidance to develop a more climate-resilient water and land solutions at multiple scales (farm, irrigation system, basin, country, and regional) in the IBIS. The outcome of this dialogue has provided a technical knowledge for proposing climate adaptation interventions at various scales leading to reduce water consumption from the agriculture sector in major areas of water basins such as the Indus. قراءة القليل