USAID-funded Pakistan Agricultural Technology Transfer Activity – Quarterly Progress Report (January 01 – March 31, 2021)

PATTA engages the private sector to adapt, commercialize, promote, and disseminate affordable, effective, and appropriate agricultural technologies to smallholder farmers in Pakistan. The activity's core program activities include operational, procurement, and financial updates. During the quarter from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021, PATTA successfully collaborated with facilitating partners, Supply Side Partners (SSPs), and local organizations to select horticulture and livestock technologies best-suited to the cropping season, climate, and needs of smallholder farmers in particular geographical locations. PATTA organized two roundtable conferences to provide customized financing products for SSPs through financial institutions and two trainings on financial management and taxation, attended by 17 participants from 11 SSPs. Under component one, PATTA provided on-site support to SSPs Solve Agri Pak and Soby Engineering to establish Quality Management Systems (QMS) aligned with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 standards. A key achievement under component one during the quarter was the signing of a Commitment of Cooperation (CoC) with United Bank Limited (UBL) to enhance SSPs' financial access and increase the adoption of agricultural technologies by smallholder farmers. Under component two, PATTA organized a training on "Leadership in Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC)" to build the capacity of ten Demand Side Partners (DSPs) on designing effective SBCC programming and awareness-raising campaigns to promote best practices for the uptake of agricultural technologies. Additionally, PATTA held three financial management trainings focused on book and record-keeping for 28 DSPs. Under component three, PATTA undertook several digital-based activities during the quarter. The activity promoted 93 agricultural technologies, including 14 U.S.-based technologies, of 20 SSPs via three monthly editions of 'Kisan World Magazine' and collaborated with Suno FM Radio Pakistan network to support eight SSPs with technology promotion through two pre-recorded radio shows. PATTA also launched Phase III of its tele-farming campaign, which reached 103,125 farmers via text SMS and audio robocalls. PATTA's collaboration with two SSPs and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in organizing two field plot demonstrations in the Punjab district of Rahim Yar Khan and Sindh district of Mirpur Khas resulted in 151 farmers showing interest in using improved seed varieties. Additionally, PATTA conducted its 2nd quarterly SBCC working group meeting in Lahore, hosted by the SSP Matra Asia, and organized a digital media marketing training in Lahore for the top management of nine SSPs. A key component three activity to unfold from February 17-20, 2021 was a four-day exposure visit of KP government officials to Punjab. The delegation met with Punjab Agriculture Department officials and select SSPs to learn how PATTA's partners are managing their agriculture and livestock technology businesses. The visit focused on strengthening linkages between the KP Agriculture Department and Punjab technology companies and exploring options to support KP farmers with crop productivity enhancement and product marketing. To commemorate International Women's Day (IWD) and highlight women's contribution to Pakistan's agriculture sector, PATTA arranged a radio program titled 'Zaraat Ki Taraqi me Khawateen Ka Kirdar' that was broadcast across Pakistan on March 10, 2021. PATTA also contributed messages of three women representatives of SSPs to USAID/Pakistan's Facebook campaign and published a blog titled 'Women in Agriculture: A Key to Pakistan's Prosperity'.