BRAVE Project brings wheat windfall and festive cheer to Charsadda
PESHAWAR: Charsadda is a disaster-prone district, frequently affected by floods that damage standing crops and severely impact agricultural livelihoods.
Climate change has further exacerbated the situation, bringing both floods and droughts, which have made traditional farming methods and crop varieties increasingly unsustainable.
In 2024, unexpected floods triggered by climate change caused extensive damage to standing crops in Charsadda, resulting in significant losses for farmers.
However, during the 2025 Rabi season, farmers in 10 of the most affected Union Councils of Charsadda district were introduced to a climate-resilient wheat variety, “Pirsabak-21.” Basic seeds were provided by CESVI, an Italian INGO, based on recommendations from the Agriculture Extension Department.
Farmers also received training on advanced cultivation practices through Farmer Field Schools (FFS), which were conducted by CESVI in collaboration with staff from the Agriculture Department.
As a result, farmers reported a bumper wheat crop, with a remarkable 50–60% increase in production. Previously, farmers would harvest 16 to 20 maunds per acre; with this new seed, production increased to 35 to 45 maunds per acre. Encouraged by these results, the farmers expressed great satisfaction and have shown strong commitment to storing seeds for the next season and sharing them with other farmers in their communities.
“For the first time in years, I have harvested enough wheat not just for my family, but also to sell in the local market,” said Rehmat Ullah, a farmer from UC Rajar. “This new seed has given us new hope after years of flood-related losses.”
This intervention is part of the BRAVE – Building Resilience and Addressing Vulnerability to Emergencies in Pakistan project, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The crop improvement activity in Charsadda is being implemented by a consortium comprising Concern Worldwide, CESVI, and NIDA Pakistan.
