Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations continues to support the Government of Pakistan’s efforts for a dignified resettlement of the Temporary Displaced Persons (TDPs) who bore conflict in their area.

In this connection, a team from FAO visited Bara in Khyber Agency of FATA to assess the progress of its Early Recovery Program.

Mr. Nasar Hayat, Assistant FAO Representative, Mr. Rafaelle DelCima, FAO FATA Project Coordinator, government officials and FAO project team members visited the area and met with beneficiaries to get feedback from them on the project’s interventions and to identify new ways to meet their needs.

A highlight of this visit was the inauguration of Minor F, one of the mega irrigation infrastructure schemes. FAO with support from DFID recently rehabilitated Minor F. This irrigation scheme benefits approximately 2900 farmers and irrigates 1174 hectares of the agriculture command area. The mission visited the canal and assessed the quality of work.

The local WUAs (Water User’s Association) members and beneficiary farmers expressing satisfaction said that they found the scheme a phenomenal support for the farmers of Bara Khyber Agency.

 Farmers also shared their experiences about the capacity development in improved agriculture practices through FFS approach and exposure to agriculturally developed areas for technology adoption and crops diversification. They shared some of the low cost environmentally safe and cost effective soil fertility management practices such as compost preparation and insect pests control methods.

In addition, approximately 200 community representatives, local elders and project beneficiaries requested for program expansion in village Akakhel Bara Khyber Agency. The FAO team also visited the agroforestry nursery in village Millward, fish pond in Seppah, irrigation schemes set up in the area with support from JICA, vegetable production units and fruit orchards.

Early Recovery Programme of the FAO includes restoration and improvement of agriculture production (including crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries), reclamation of land and rehabilitation of water resources. It also focuses on strengthening the institutional capacity of government and private agriculture service providers.