Dissemination, Diffusion, and Adoption of the Best Soil Fertility and Soil Health Management Practices and Technologies for the Farmers of Pakistan (Phase 2)

Low organic matter in most of the Pakistani soils resulting in low fertility and deteriorated health of these soils. • Low fertilizer use efficiency. • Micronutrient deficiency in soils of several areas which negatively affect yield, quality, and health of vegetables, orchards and field crops. • Negligible use of green manure crops and the Biofertilizers, which can improve fertilizer use efficiency, and soil health. • Improper use of organic nutrient sources available at fa1m level i.e. farm animal manure and crop residues. • Imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers results, which impairs crop yields and fertilizer use efficiency. • Lack of proper machinery to manage crop residue

The first step is to establish and maintain technologies demonstration sites at lead institution stations and on farmer sites. After that it proceed by procurement, development and demonstration of improved machinery and establish awareness of technologies by holding male and female farmer field days. The message will be related to introduction of technologies and their advantages over the farmers' practices and on the use of electronic tools. The next step will be the creation of linkages between ASP's, dealers network, manufactures, private and public organizations and the farmers for supply of services and to increase adoption and diffusion of the technologies. Monitoring and evaluation of diffusion and adoption by the farmers of each technologies is through meeting and field visits of scientist of SSRI, staff of lead institutions and ICARDA. Coordination of partner and stakeholder by ICARDA.

The project aim and research activities are fundamentally oriented at capacity building for enhancing agricultural sustainability with a focus on dissemination, diffusion, and adoption of the best soil fertility and soil health management practices and technologies. This project promotes the use of balanced nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, micronutrients fertilizers and the use of machinery for rice residue management, Zero-till wheat planting, fertilizer placement, and banana residue chopping for making compost. By the end of this project, the outcome to deliver on the longer-term is: "Enhancement and adoption of successful technologies to improve soil fertility and health at small household level". The new knowledge and skills acquired by professional and technical staff of various stakeholders (research institutions, farmers) will help in adopting and applying new technologies generated and demonstrated in their regular activities to sustain the project achievements. Training of NARS researchers and farmers will equip them with knowledge and skills to develop the management of technologies.