Tandojam (Mehboob Hussain Buzdar): The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam (SAU) have agreed to strengthen cooperation to address the growing challenges of climate change in Sindh, support farmers and improve food security.
The two institutions emphasized that young agricultural graduates can play a crucial role in helping farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
A delegation from FAO Pakistan, led by Officer-in-Charge James Robert Okoth, met with Vice Chancellor of Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Engineer Professor Dr Altaf Ali Sial. The meeting focused on education, research, student internships, professional training and capacity-building opportunities for students and faculty.
The delegation included Maria Usman, FAO Administration; Pedro Grazon, Project Manager, RFA/RAF; and Dr Ashfaq Ahmed Nahiyoon, Provincial Coordinator of the GCF Project.
During the meeting, Dr Altaf Ali Sial appreciated FAO Pakistan’s continued support and contribution to the agricultural sector. He said various parts of Pakistan, particularly Sindh, were facing serious impacts of climate change, increasing the responsibility of agricultural experts, educational institutions and research organizations to provide farmers with practical and scientifically based assistance.
He said climate change was already affecting agriculture, water availability and the livelihoods of farmers. Therefore, agricultural experts must work closely with farmers and relevant institutions to develop practical solutions to emerging challenges.
Dr Sial stressed the need to connect agricultural education and research with practical field experience. He said preparing young graduates to deal effectively with modern agricultural technologies, food security, climate change and sustainable farming was an important requirement of the present time.
He added that experts from Sindh Agriculture University were already working with various organizations to address challenges facing the agricultural sector. Strong institutional cooperation between SAU and FAO, he said, could create additional opportunities for students and faculty in research, internships, professional training and capacity development.
FAO Pakistan Officer-in-Charge James Robert Okoth recalled the organization’s successful cooperation with Sindh Agriculture University in the past and expressed interest in expanding joint initiatives in the future.
He highlighted the importance of cooperation between SAU students, agricultural experts and FAO in finding solutions to the problems faced by farmers because of climate change.
Okoth said FAO wanted to work with local communities and institutions to promote agricultural development, support farmers and encourage sustainable and economically beneficial farming practices, particularly in underdeveloped areas of Sindh.
The meeting also discussed opportunities for greater collaboration in research and practical training so that agricultural graduates could gain field-based experience and contribute more effectively to the province’s agricultural development.
Registrar Ghulam Mueenuddin Qureshi was also present at the meeting.
The discussions concluded with a shared understanding that stronger links between universities, international organizations, agricultural experts and farming communities can help Sindh respond more effectively to climate-related risks while improving agricultural productivity and food security.
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