Extreme weather and disasters aren’t distant realities, as the outcomes of climate change and communities increasingly symbolize the epicentre of the human impacts of the climate crisis today. Agro-pastoral communities in Pakistan continue to confront the effects of the climate crisis, including economic deterioration and high prices for essential items, including food and agricultural supplies.
The International Rescue Committee and Unilever collaborated to develop the “Pakistan Seed Security Prototype,” which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by building the resilience of farming communities through green entrepreneurship.
In this report, Unilever and IRC pledge to enhance climate resilience over the next five years through initiatives focused on strengthening seed systems, reducing disaster risks, and transitioning livelihoods. The report was launched at “Pakistan’s Humanitarian Future Event 2025,” a pivotal gathering to address the country’s preparedness and response to the escalating impacts of climate change.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Romina Khurshid Alam (Coordinator to PM on Climate Change) highlighted Pakistan’s increasing dependence on glaciers and rivers for its water supply, emphasizing that the country is facing acute water shortages that exacerbate the challenges for agriculture, a crucial sector of the national economy and survival.
“Our agriculture is significantly threatened by water scarcity, and we need invest in long-term solutions to tackle these challenges” she stated. She termed the Seed Security Prototype as a vital innovation that can pave the way for climate-resilient agricultural practices.
The report findings indicate that farmers in Pakistan are grappling with dwindling quality and availability of seed stocks, and the harsh impacts of unpredictable and extreme weather conditions make it worse. These issues have disrupted the agricultural cycle and led to severe economic consequences, pushing many farmers further into a vicious cycle of debt and poverty.
Waqas Dar, Country Director of the International Rescue Committee- Pakistan, noted that “Achieving sustained growth in agricultural production and productivity heavily depends on developing improved crop varieties and establishing an efficient system to ensure the timely availability of high-quality seeds to farmers.”
The Seed Security prototype is designed to support farmers in identifying and multiplying climate-resilient seed varieties and systematize and incentivize the exchange of services, skills and seeds among participating farmers, community-based organizations (CBOs) and other stakeholders. Building climate-resilient livelihoods by ensuring availability and improving sustainable and affordable access to quality seeds lies at the core of our joint vision.
Fatima Arshad (Head of Sustainability and Corporate Communications Unilever) said, “Nature has emerged as a key pillar of Unilever’s sustainability strategy. We are committed to promoting climate resilient agricultural practices in Pakistan to improve seed security and farmer livelihoods and support regenerative agriculture through strong partnerships with key stakeholders.”
It is pertinent to note that the National Seed Policy 2024 states that seeds are very important in shaping food crop production and stresses that it is vital to have seeds with suitable traits to adapt to diverse climatic conditions and intensive cropping systems while also addressing the varying needs of consumers.