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Alternative Livelihoods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan - GCP/PAK/151/USA

Year of publication 2021

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its Newly Merged Districts are characterized by widespread poverty, internal conflicts, poor infrastructure and weak institutional governance, including justice sector agencies. For many years, their economies were sustained by illicit activities, including the cultivation of poppy. Opium plays a multi functional role in rural livelihoods, providing credit, access to land and an important source of income to local households, especially those with insufficient land. The ban on opium growing in Pakistan has deprived the local population of its ability to meet its traditional socioeconomic needs. The aim of the project was to introduce alternative crops that would provide beneficiaries with a livelihood and encourage them to abandon the illicit cultivation of poppy. The project has contributed towards sustainable economic growth through improved access to diversified livelihood opportunities in the targeted districts. As a result of the project, the livelihoods of the target population are supported either by increased areas under improved crop cultivation or by the adoption of improved crop cultivation by farmers who previously grew poppy.

Language English

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    Agriculture and livestock account for 97 percent of livelihoods in the newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Most farmers in these areas are small landholders engaged in crop production at subsistence level. Despite favourable agro climatic conditions, development is hindered by poor post harvest management practices, lack of storage and transport facilities, and limited access to markets. The prolonged conflicts of the past decade have caused extensive damage to the agriculture sector, while the destruction of market infrastructure has disrupted local supply chains and links with external markets. The abandonment of cropland, depleting food stocks and lack of productive resources to resume livelihood support activities, the loss of productive assets, degraded lands, limited access to finance and diminishing coping mechanisms all threaten the food security of the local population. The project was, therefore, designed to focus on issues of food security and sustainable livelihoods, with an emphasis on enterprise development.
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    The newly merged districts, formerly known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and Torghar district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are not only remote but also remain prone to insurgency, illicit drug trade and extremism. The economies of these districts were, for many years, sustained by illicit activities, including the cultivation of poppy, which had become the major livelihood for people in the harsh mountainous regions. The Government is making every effort to eradicate poppy and other illicit crops from the area. However, in order to ensure that the results obtained are sustainable, interventions need to be complemented by sustainable capacity building programmes. The aim of the project was to improve the technical training capacities of the Agriculture Extension Department in the target areas through the introduction of needs based, practical and easily adopted training curricula for the sustainable production of alternative crops.
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    This project aimed to address the challenges of illicit opium cultivation in Pakistan, particularly in the remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by promoting alternative livelihoods. FAO and INL adopted a holistic approach to support farmers in the districts of Bajaur, Mohmand, and Khyber, where food insecurity, natural disasters, and limited resources drive the continued cultivation of illicit crops. The initiative focused on diversifying income sources through alternative crop production, improved irrigation, livestock farming, and dairy processing, while incorporating gender and climate-smart agriculture practices. Key activities included capacity building for both male and female farmers, development of local agricultural and livestock extension services, and collaboration with private sector value chain actors to enhance production, processing, and marketing. The project also emphasized community involvement and sustainability, ensuring coordination with local administration and other relevant initiatives to maximize impact and avoid duplication.
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