PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Agriculture Minister, Major (R) Sajjad Barkawal, announced the launch of 18 new agricultural projects across the province, focusing on climate change resilience and sustainable farming practices.
He made these remarks at the Second International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture, attended by officials, farmers, academia, and stakeholders from across Pakistan.
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Speaking at the event, Barkaawal called for an urgent need for modern seed varieties, updated research, and awareness campaigns among agricultural stakeholders. “Climate change is a major threat to agriculture, especially in resource-limited provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said. “But with the right tools, collaboration, and policy, we can turn these challenges into opportunities.”
Under Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s leadership, the province is allocating 40% of its agricultural development budget to converting wastelands into arable lands, particularly in the southern districts. Barkawal also revealed the establishment of two Centers of Excellence in Peshawar and Swat to support innovation and private sector involvement in agriculture.
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Microfinance loan schemes are being introduced to assist small farmers. The minister stressed the importance of engaging academic institutions to contribute research that directly supports farmers’ needs. He also appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Media Development Foundation (PMDF), which co-hosted the conference, for playing a pivotal role in promoting agricultural awareness.
Key attendees included Secretary Agriculture Atta ur Rehman, BoR’s Javed Marwat, Vice Chancellors of agricultural universities in Peshawar and Swat, and private sector representatives. Sponsors such as Syngenta, Bayer, Agri Fertilizers, Fatima Group, and National Bank of Pakistan supported the event.
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Barkawal concluded by urging all stakeholders, including media, donors, and civil society, to contribute toward building a climate-resilient agricultural economy. He affirmed that KP is on track to become a national leader in sustainable farming, in line with former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s agricultural vision.
