Introduction to the Project
Sona Center is envisioned to be Pakistan’ s road to Food Security and Prosperity, which is one of the most significant issues faced globally in the aftermath of growing population, rampant poverty, conflicts, climatic changes and soil degradation. With a legacy of being at the center of agriculture in Pakistan from the last four decades, FFC has devised the project with the aim of addressing all factors contributing to the decline of Food Security in the country.
Understanding Food Security & Its Impact
On average, Pakistan has approximately 40% food insecure populace, which is a strategic threat to the national security and stability of the country. There are regions like Baluchistan and FATA (Present KP) which have percentage close to 70%.
The statistics reflect that almost 100 million Pakistanis have no access to the basic food required for healthy living and progression. Post 2015, Food Security has been recognized by all associated stakeholders as the second most emergent threat to world peace and prosperity. The Global Vision 2030, by United Nations under its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has marked “No Hunger” as its 2nd strategic area of interventions among 17 SDG’s.
Farmer Community Center (Sona Center)
FFC has embedded social responsibility as a core component of its business strategy, and it becomes firmer with every passing day. Post 2018, we started working on the food security crisis in Pakistan, which is now impacting over 100 million of our population. With the country already water stressed and bracing for severe climatic changes, the situation will become worse in coming years.
Being one of the agri stake holder in Pakistan through our business of fertilizer and food processing, FFC devoted its resources towards understanding and devising a comprehensive program towards addressing this crisis. This included services of best agri experts and international researchers. Post 1982, FFC has worked on the capacity building and support of farmers, through its Agri Services Program. This included workshops, seminars, village/ council meetings, on ground model cultivation plots, introduction of new technology and implements, soil/ water and micro nutrition profiling and working hand in hand with farmers to upgrade agriculture in Pakistan. The program, one of the largest in the region has tapped over 2.2 million farmers till date.
Agriculture and Farmer Related Services
Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero hunger
- Agriculture Training
- Capacity Building Workshops and Field Seminars
- State of the art Agri Labs / testing facilities
- Inception of new efficient and modern technologies
- Micro financing at lowest prices
- Top line agri equipment for utilization of farmers on rental basis and training
Training of Farmers at Sona Center APL 1
Training of Farmers at Sona Center APL 2
Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality education
- Mapping of Out of School Children (OOSC) and their Enrollment
- Non Formal Education Center for Children
- Technical and Vocational Training Facility
Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good health and well-being
- Model health clinic for local area
- Focus on awareness, counseling
- Mother/ Child health/ Nutrition
Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
- Women Empowerment through specialized training in small holding agriculture
- Fruit orchards
- Kitchen Gardening
- Livestock keeping,
- Poultry and Dairy Processing
Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- Introduction of renewable solar, wind and hydro power to farmers
- Best utilization practices and awareness
- Provision of loans for renewable energy acquisition
- Projects aimed at conversion of Agri Waste to energy. MOU signed between Enmass Energy USA and FFC Pakistan
Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate action
- Specialized programs for environment preservation including water managements
- Efficient use of agriculture products and chemicals etc
- Disaster Relief & Response
- Preparedness of communities vulnerable to floods and other calamities
- Climate Smart Agriculture Programs
In all, we foresee establishment of 5-6 centers at strategic locations spread across Pakistan to undertake the mission of a Food Secure Pakistan in line with Global Vision of SDG 2 “No Hunger” by 2030. The location earmarked as of today are as following (Tentative, however selection based on the geographical and agriculture profiling)
- Rahim Yar Khan
- Gilgit
- Tharparkar
- Dera Allah Yar (Baluchistan)
- Mardan
- Sahiwal
