Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the financial assistance of the European Union (EU) will work to improve land tenancy for the landless farmers or haris under the project ‘Improved Land Tenancy in Sindh Province (ILTS)’. Haris or landless farmers in Sindh usually have access to land as tenants through verbal agreements between them and the landlords. These farmers often end-up as vulnerable “bonded” workers.
This project was launched at a ceremony in Karachi where Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Shah was the chief guest.
4 million Euros will be spent over the next four years to benefit 12,600 households in eight districts of Sindh including Dadu, Jamshoro, Larkana, Matiari, Mirpur Khas, Tando Allah yar, Tando Muhammad Khan, and Sujawal.
4,800 informal tenancy agreements between haris and landlords and 504 Farmer Field Schools and Women Open Schools will be conducted to contribute to improving livelihoods and reducing poverty along with ensuring better use of natural resources in the targeted areas.
The guest of honor at the ceremony was Mr Hazar Khan Bijarani, the honourable minister for Planning and Development Board, Government of Sindh. Addressing participants he said: “We hope to see programmes of poverty alleviation all across Sindh. In this connection we appreciate the efforts of FAO and EU for helping us to improve livelihoods in rural areas with a focus on rural women.”
Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Jean-François Cautain, Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan was also present and said “The European Union is pleased to collaborate with FAO on promoting the establishment in Sindh of a land tenure system that can sustainably improve the equitable access to, and governance of, land and natural resources, allowing for improvements in agricultural production, food security and nutrition.
Ms Minà Dowlatchahi, FAO Representative in Pakistan appreciated the partnership with EU and Government of Pakistan and said: “The project will implement elements of The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) for unlocking the potential of agriculture and rural development in Sindh. It will enable farmers to improve their livelihoods and adopt climate resilient innovative agriculture practices. It will also promote nutrition education through Women Open Schools (WOS) and nutrition sensitive agriculture interventions”.
VGGT will be used to improve tenure security for farmers taking into account agricultural productivity and gender inequality issues. These guidelines are a set of internationally accepted standards of good practices in relation to tenure governance, which can guide decision making and policy development regarding matters related to tenure security in the context of arrangements between landlords and haris.
This project will be instrumental in introduction of governance arrangements leading towards secure tenancy within the framework of the existing legal and institutional framework. It will also help develop capacity of local institutions working to improve life in rural Sindh.