Quetta – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is scaling up efforts to contain the impact of COVID19 on food security and nutrition in Balochistan province by ensuring that the local communities have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

FAO in close collaboration with relevant Government of Balochistan line departments and with the support of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Plant Protection Department and various other stakeholders has been supporting the local authorities in responding to complex emergencies, including the locust outbreak, floods, drought and most recently the COVID-19 crisis and lockdown.

As part of its COVID-19 response, FAO is playing an active role in assessing and responding to its potential impacts on lives and livelihoods of local communities. FAO is conducting field awareness sessions and is carrying out electronic and print media campaigns for the farmers to help slow the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring that agriculture production can continue under safety standard operating procedures. Awareness campaigns are underway in various districts of Balochistan in an effort to safeguard livelihoods, markets, food supply chains and livestock of the local communities. Field assessments and coordinating surveys are also a part of FAO’s communications strategy to strengthen provincial and national capacities to combat COVID-19.

“COVID-19 is disrupting livelihoods, food supply chain and people’s access to food and basic services. Rural livelihoods need a concerted effort from all actors to ensure emergency employment or social protection as well as keeping the food system and rural economy moving, particularly those segments driven by small, informal producers, service providers, rural institutions, and value chain participants,” said Minà Dowlatchahi, FAO Representative in Pakistan.

FAO urges civil society, relevant departments of government, academia and other stakeholders and partners to work together to ensure that the value chains that deliver our food are coordinated and functioning properly while minimizing the risks of contagion. FAO is responding to the challenges faced by farmers, men and women, by raising awareness about food safety and health best practices and is also combining efforts with the government and local stakeholders to identify and implement measures to ensure food availability and access – including between rural, peri-urban and urban areas.