Project Title

Women Leadership in Organic Farming (WLOF)

Sponsor/Donor

Barclays Bank - Barclays Community Partnership Program

Implementation Partners

LEAD Pakistan

Starting Date

February 2012

Project Duration

8 Months

Project Focus & Outreach

Increase livelihoods, female empowerment and environmental sustainability through sensitization on organic farming of female farmers of District Okara – Punjab , Pakistan

Project Objectives

• To sensitize urban demand for organic products to rural supply and create responsiveness in rural supply to the requirements of urban demand;              

• To identify and highlight opportunities for increased livelihoods through organic farming activities for women farmers in District Okara              

• To transfer the collated market intelligence to rural stakeholders;              

• To undertake capacity building for organic farming amongst rural women in District Okara;                  

• To act as liaison and create synergies between rural women producers of organic products and urban retailers in Lahore for guaranteeing a market for rural produce

Project Brief

Food security is a growing concern in Pakistan and according to UN Human Rights Council; women are the most vulnerable to this emerging challenge. 

In this regard, organic farming has emerged as a viable alternative to existing paradigms of land use in Pakistan, and as a mechanism for empowering women.

Pakistan was one of the top five contributors of land area under organic farming (24,000 ha.) in 2008, with a total number of organic farms of 405 (2001). Furthermore, with increasing policy focus in the form of National Programme for the Promotion of Organic Farming in Pakistan, the time is ripe to exploit the potential of organic markets.

This project aims sensitize the female farmers of District Okara so that they can harness the potential of organic farming which yields higher profits and larger market access. 

Project Targets:

The direct beneficiaries are the 35 female farmers of Tehsil Depalpur – District Okara who will participate in theoretical and practical training on organic farming to motivate them to take up organic farming as a viable economic option.  The increased awareness and demand of organic farming will act as  the driver for “organic food market” , creating a niche in the traditional farmers market.

With the increased awareness , focus , demand and supply on organic farming , there are opportunities for  retailers and wholesalers to market and export organic produce and play a strategic role in promoting organic farming and organic market in  Pakistan.

Project Location:

District Okara