The Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN) Pakistan Chapter held its official launching under the hosting of Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan. The event took place at the DG hotel, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan. This makes CSAYN’s 3rd officially-launched south Asia Chapter.
The chapter is yet another progress to empower Pakistani youths through shared knowledge and capacity building in Climate Smart Agriculture and Agribusiness to address critical challenges in climate change, Food Security and unemployment through development in Agriculture. CSAYN Pakistan will serve as an open platform for Pakistani Agro-preneurs, youth farmers, environmentalists and youth advocates within the ages 18 to 35.
Members of faculty of Agriculture Sciences Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan, pesticides dealers, and company owners and students of Department of Plant Protection along with other youth delegates and directors of a number of local NGO’s within the Agriculture and Livestock Sectors were in attendance at the event. The Country Coordinator for CSAYN Pakistan and his team members presented some of the key achievements made within the country chapter. Dr. Amjad highlighted CSAYN’s major success in translating the SDG’s into national and six local languages, (Urdu, Punjabi, Saraikee, Balochi, Pushtoo, Hindkoo and Balti) and how that leveraged effective community participation and derived interest for young people to engage in CSA.
“Each country chapter has had its own unique success story to learn from” mentioned Dr. Amjad during his presentation, “particularly in being an example of how CSAYN was able to ensure the inclusion of youth and people living with disabilities (PLWD) in CSA and the application of its SDG-localization campaigns.” He also highlighted the importance of launching CSAYN Pakistan on this high-level meeting, helping draw the attention of relevant stakeholders to tap into the youth’s motivation to make impact within agriculture and climate change adaption. “We need to retain young people in agriculture as a means to address unemployment and climate adversities. That is why agriculture needs a creative and rebranded image among the youth to create more opportunities within the sector”. And at the end Dr. Amjad asserted that the best culture in the World is Agriculture and we are proud of it.
Another team member of CSAYN Pakistan, Dr. Naeem added “CSAYN stands as a proven example of how it was possible to mobilize and deliver impact with little or mostly no financial support.” He further added, “With inclusive youth and community participation, CSAYN is on its visionary track to globally empower young people in CSA knowledge and practices and we go forward with SD goals.”
Similar sentiments were shared from other members of the team who jointly emphasized on the need for CSAYN to consider the issues regarding empowering women, malnourishment issue of women and children and at the last but not least poverty of the area. A drama was also performed by the students of the Plant Protection Department showing the poverty issue which have a great lesson for the participants.
The launching ceremony for CSAYN Pakistan ended with following deeds:
- The establishment of CSAYN-Pakistan chapter will build the capacity of Young social entrepreneurs in climate smart innovations in agriculture in Value addition and also in Environment Management through recycling as a Social Enterprise.
- The Network will also work with youth-led and youth-focused organizations, government of Pakistan through line Ministries and other development partners to influence policies that protect the environment (less usage of Pesticides) and create an enabling platform for youth engagement in Climate Smart Agriculture.