During the closing session of an expert consultation on climate services for agricultural advisories and anticipatory actions in Pakistan, Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), formally launched the "Agriculture Production and Climate Dashboard" in Islamabad on July 5, 2023.
The purpose of the consultation was to share advancements in weather monitoring and forecasting platforms and explore ways to effectively utilize climate information in agricultural advisories and proactive humanitarian aid during climatic disasters.
Chairman NDMA commended the collaborative efforts of relevant institutions in improving access to agricultural and climate-related information for planning and crisis management in response to climate change and associated hazards.
He stressed the need for enhancing the capabilities of information systems, including forecasting and projection tools, to enable timely actions in crisis situations such as the 2022 Sindh floods. He also emphasized the integration of information datasets with the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) to create a comprehensive operating picture and establish early warning systems for proactive disaster management.
Mr. Mahr Sahibzad Khan, Director General of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), highlighted PMD's role in providing timely agriculture advisories and emphasized the importance of adopting and operationalizing new technologies for weather forecasting and information communication. He praised the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) for their role in bringing advanced climate modeling technologies and capacity-building initiatives to Pakistan's national institutions.
Dr. Faisal Qamer, Intervention Manager at ICIMOD, discussed the collaborative efforts between PMD, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), and ICIMOD in developing innovative approaches that utilize weather outlooks and early warning systems to help vulnerable communities prepare for climate-related crises.
Mr. Birendra Bajracharya, Chief of Party for the SERVIR Program at ICIMOD, highlighted the importance of adopting modern early warning systems as an adaptive measure to climate change in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. He emphasized the need for co-development with national partners to ensure effective implementation.
Dr. Bashir Ahmad explained the capabilities of the Agriculture Production and Climate Dashboard, which provides spatial and temporal information on various aspects of agriculture, including crop production, vegetables, livestock, water use, and climate. The dashboard incorporates weather and climate information from the National Drought Watch - Pakistan, a collaborative effort by PMD, ICIMOD, and PARC.
The "Agriculture Production and Climate Dashboard" was officially launched during an expert consultation on climate services for agricultural advisories and anticipatory actions in Pakistan.
