SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY

CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE (CSA) CAPACITY BUILDING

Our climate is changing and sustainable agricultural production is increasingly becoming difficult. Moreover, the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture sector (particularly carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) are a great concern for the global bodies working on reduction of carbon emissions from the various sectors. DECENT GROWERS does not look at the agriculture sector through lenses of just production and consumption; we also look for sustainability in the agriculture sector by promoting climate-smart agriculture. We provide our technical services for training farmers and urban residents on climate-smart agriculture, natural resource management, and household waste management. We train academicians, researchers, farmers and civil society workers on practical aspects of climate-smart agriculture and natural resources management by demonstrating to them our CSA activities. We also develop resource kits (brochures, infographics, training modules and manuals) for trainees according to their capacity building needs.

DEVELOPMENT OF CSA TRAINING MATERIALS

DECENT GROWERS is a responsible services provider in the climate and agricultural consultancies sector that also develops capacity-building knowledge kits on climate-smart agriculture. These kits may be in the form of knowledge products such as training modules, manuals, brochures, infographics, etc. We develop partnerships with our national and international partners for the development of locally relevant knowledge products for capacity building of our farmers, academia, researchers, extension workers, and civil society.

CAPACITY BUILDING ON SDGs AND INTEGRATION WITH AGRICULTURE

DECENT GROWERS is an agriculture sector company with specific expertise in urban agriculture, horticulture, and climate science. We consider it our responsibility to drive agricultural development in line with the United Nations development agenda in the form of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) is directly targeting the agriculture sector which indirectly has linkages to all of the 17 SDGs (particularly SDG 3; Good Health and Well Being, SDG 6; Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 12; Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13; Climate Action) we want agricultural transformation keeping in view all the relevant SDGs. To achieve this goal, we are ready to play our role by developing linkages with respective national and international agencies

SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAINOUS AGRICULTURE

Pakistan has huge geographical area covered by mountains. There is a great potential for improving agriculture in the mountainous areas, particularly the Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral region (GBC) region. The farming communities are marginalized in these areas due to lack of resources, harsh agro-ecological conditions, natural hazards, lack of proper supply chain and poor infrastructure. DECENT GROWERS strategizes to overcome the challenges faced by mountain communities by promoting their products, branding and outreach to global markets. We are ready to work with all stakeholders particularly farmers, farmer cooperatives, government, NGOs/INGOs and civil society in this regard. Our efforts will help in building resilient production and supply chain of the valuable products from our proud farmers and their cooperatives in the mountainous regions.

SUSTAINABLE DESERT AGRICULTURE

Pakistan has vast deserts in the Sindh (Thar desert), Punjab (Thal and Cholistan deserts) and Balochistan (Kharan desert) provinces. These deserts are characterized by harsh environmental conditions, limited water resources and poor farming communities which are dependent on agriculture and livestock. The agriculture is marginalized due to lack of sufficient water, sandy soils having very little nutrient resources and harsh climatic conditions. DECENT GROWERS have a vision to bring huge transformation in these areas by promoting sustainable desert agriculture working in close collaboration with government organizations, farmers and other stakeholders. We will work to promote high tech desert farming practices that use less water and produce more output. 

SUSTAINABLE COASTAL AGRICULTURE

Pakistan has a coastline of 1046 km and mangrove forests surrounding the Indus Delta cover 600,000 hectares, considered as the world’s biggest dry climate mangroves. The coastal areas in Pakistan face climate change and sea level rise. The sea water intrusion is making agricultural lands increasingly becoming unfit for cultivation. Moreover, climate change, environmental and water pollution, administrative problems and unsustainable cutting of mangroves is resulting in the decreased area under mangrove forests. As mangroves are very important from marine and land biodiversity, costal ecosystems and agriculture point of view, there is increased demand to protect mangroves and coastal agriculture in Pakistan. DECENT GROWERS is committed to the cause of saving and expanding mangrove forests, protect agriculture in the coastal areas and to contribute greatly to the cause of sustainable coastal agriculture.

SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity is not just an indicator of a healthy ecosystem but also a potential contributor towards our social, economic and environmental development. The diverse bio-ecosystems also play crucial rule in fostering agricultural production. For example, the pollination services provided by pollinators in food production is estimated to be around 577 billion US dollars. However, increasing climate change, unsustainable agricultural production practices, deforestation and habitat loss, population growth and rapid urbanization are causing a major decline in our biodiversity. .DECENT GROWERS understands the importance of sustainable ecosystems and biodiversity for human wellbeing, environments and sustainable agriculture. We have a clear vision to protect our ecosystems and biodiversity in our national parks, localized ecosystems and agro-ecologies across Pakistan. For this cause, we are ready to work with communities, civil society, government organizations and national and international nongovernment organizations. We can play our role by supporting relevant organizations in their conservation efforts, developing training materials and training local communities in ecosystem and biodiversity conservation programs.

CAPACITY BUILDING ON SDGs AND INTEGRATION WITH AGRICULTURE

DECENT GROWERS is an agriculture sector company with specific expertise in urban agriculture, horticulture, and climate science. We consider it our responsibility to drive agricultural development in line with the United Nations development agenda in the form of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) is directly targeting the agriculture sector which indirectly has linkages to all of the 17 SDGs (particularly SDG 3; Good Health and Well Being, SDG 6; Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 12; Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13; Climate Action) we want agricultural transformation keeping in view all the relevant SDGs. To achieve this goal, we are ready to play our role by developing linkages with respective national and international agencies