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Regenerative Agriculture: A Sustainable Future for Pakistan

Concept Overview

Regenerative Agriculture is a transformative farming approach designed to enhance ecosystem health while improving agricultural productivity. It focuses on restoring soil vitality, increasing biodiversity, and optimizing water use efficiency to create climate smart and resilient farming systems. This method moves beyond conventional practices, actively working to rebuild natural resources rather than deplete them, ultimately fostering sustainability and food & nutrition security.

Rationale for Regenerative Agriculture in Pakistan

Agriculture forms the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, employing 48% of the labor force and providing income for 70% of the population. Despite its favorable climate, abundant irrigation, and over 55 million acres of arable land, Pakistan remains a net importer of essential food items, including oilseeds and pulses, yearly increasing costing over USD 7 billion.

The productivity of key crops like wheat, cotton, and rice lags that of neighboring countries, primarily due to inferior soil quality, suboptimal seed genetics, high input costs, and outdated agricultural practices. Industrial agricultural methods often lead to soil degradation, environmental pollution, GHG emissions, unsafe food products, and inefficient water usage, exacerbating food insecurity and economic challenges.

Regenerative Agriculture System (RAS)

  • RAS employs a holistic framework that emphasizes soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem preservation. Key practices include:

1. Soil Profile Analysis

Regular assessments to monitor soil organic matter, pH and nutrient levels.

2. Hard-pan breaking

It is important to break at least one-time that hardpans for sustainable growth of soil biota and efficient utilization of water and nutrients.

3. No-Tillage Farming

Reduces soil disturbance, enhances water retention, and fosters carbon sequestration.

4. Raised Beds

Improve drainage and aeration, leading to better crop yields.

5. Organic Mulching

Conserves moisture, regulates soil temperature, and suppresses weeds.

6. Precision Seed Planting

Increases planting efficiency, significantly reducing seed usage.

7. Cover Cropping

Protects soil and enhances biodiversity while preventing erosion.

8. Reduced Chemical Inputs

Promotes a closed-loop system that minimizes reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

9. Soil Biota Regeneration

Encourages microbial diversity, enhancing soil health and nutrient cycling.

10. Organic Matter Management:

Aims for optimal organic content (2-5%) to boost soil fertility and moisture retention.

11. Agroforestry

12-16 multipurpose leafy plant trees in an acre can boost the organic matter, mitigate GHG emissions and protect ecosystem.

12. Farm-forest-fusion and Sheep-orchard-fusion

Pro Nature Alliance has introduced organic matter fortification of soil through Farm-forest-fusion and Sheep-orchard-fusion.

Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture System

  • Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Achieved through no-till practices and reduced synthetic inputs.
  • Water Conservation: Enhanced through organic mulching and raised beds.
  • Reduced Land Development Costs: Eliminates the need for extensive tilling.
  • Decreased Input Costs: Less reliance on fertilizers and pesticides reduces expenses.
  • Safer Food Production: Emphasizes natural growing methods, leading to healthier food options.
  • Increased Profit Margins: Lower production costs translate to higher farmer incomes.
  • Enhanced Productivity: Increased productivity/yields of wheat, rice and other major crops can free up land for the cultivation of import substitution crops like pulses, oilseeds, and soybeans through enhanced area and improved yields.

PNARD Mission

PNARD specializes in Regenerative Agriculture System (RAS) and committed to revolutionize the agriculture landscape of Pakistan through transformation to RAS. The Regenerative Agriculture Production System is a nature-based, climate-smart solution that addresses Pakistan’s agricultural challenges while promoting sustainability and economic viability. By reviving soil health and fostering resilient ecosystems, RAPS holds the potential to transform Pakistan’s agricultural landscape into a more productive and environmentally friendly system, ensuring food security for future generations.

SAT/RAS Trials in Collaboration with PARC and ADPC

In 2021, PNARD was awarded a competitive innovation grant to promote climate-smart agriculture. The grant was managed by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and funded by the World Bank and FCDO.

Since 2021, PNARD has been consistently conducting regenerative agriculture trials in collaboration with NARC, private farms, and other partners across diverse agro-ecological zones of Punjab and Sindh, with NARC, Islamabad serving as a core collaborating institution. These trials have been successfully completed, demonstrating proof of concept for a regenerative agriculture production model that includes one-time hardpan breaking, no-till farming, raised beds, organic mulching, precision seed planting, cover cropping, agroforestry, soil enrichment through compost and biochar, and improved irrigation water management.

PNARD R&D Pursuits

Pro Nature Alliance R& D is actively engaged in pursuing following initiatives.

  • 5th Year Continuing Action Research Trials on Regenerative Agriculture System in Collaboration with ADPC, NARC, PIDE, and Progressive Farmers.
  • Promoting Agroforestry and Orchard-Sheep-Fusion, Project.
  • Enhancing Food & Nutrition Security through Cultivating Climate-smart Resilient Food Systems, Project.
  • Fostering AMR/One-health Approach in Food Animals, Project.
  • Promoting Circular Biochar Solutions for Soil Fortification and Resilient Farming, Project.
  • Mitigating Urban Smog Through Household Hydroponics in Lahore, Project.

Collaboration

  • Lahore University of Management Sciences-LUMS.
  • Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA).
  • Climate Action and Partnership Centre (CAP), Lahore Leads University.
  • National Agriculture Research Center Islamabad (NARC).
  • National Rural Support Program (NRSP).
  • Samsons Agri-Farms.
  • Zubaida Agri-Farms.
  • Thal Agri-Farms.
  • Memon Agri-Farms.
  • Cholistan Farms.
  • Mian Agri-Farms.
  • F-3 Organo Farms.
  • Farm Dynamics.

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