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Human Development Foundation (HDF) Pakistan came into existence in June 1999. It is a subsidiary of Human Development Foundation of North America (HDFNA) that was established and registered in 1997 at Chicago, Illinois, USA as a non-profit organization. A group of Pakistani Americans, mostly physicians, living in the United States, initially started work in Pakistan in 1989, in maternal and Child Healthcare, through APPNA SEHAT (Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America). The group felt that only healthcare was not enough and thus created HDFNA, which implements its programs in Mass Literacy, Enhanced Quality of Education, Primary Health Care, and Grassroots Economic Development through HDF Pakistan. HDF Pakistan has also been registered in Pakistan as a Public Limited Company under Section 42 of the Companies Ordinance 1984 in year 2000. Project objectives: Conservation of insect biodiversity in our target area by the year 2012. Reduce cost of the target farming communities by 60% incurred on pesticides. Tapping Donor other than GEF-SGP (UNDP) till Feb.2009 Target Community empowerment for sustainable handling of the project themselves by March 2012. Reduce health hazards for cotton growers. Awareness workshop for Nazims, Naibnazims and landlords, influencial of cotton industry. Initiation the process of organic cotton registration with relevant authorities. Activities to be carried out under project: In order to achieve the above objectives, the following activities shall be carried out: Social mobilization training of IPM staff. Integrated pest management activities will be carried out on 800 acres of Union Council 45-P and Bagh-o-Bahar.(chack-102-1L & 103,105,106,107,108,109,110,112,115,116,117,118,119,120,121,123,124,125 -1L) Target community awareness campaign through monthly community meetings by HDF social mobilization staff. Scheduled meeting with the existing 20 FFS per month for keeping the target community updated by broadening their knowledge base regarding cotton IPM regular practices and new challenges and developments. Para-specialist s monthly meeting. Effective use of laboratory for the rearing of beneficial insects for meeting the requirement of the target area. Provision of inputs for rearing beneficial insects Education for the use of natural product like Neem Oil, and Organic Pesticides etc. Introduction of integrated crop management (ICM) in target area i.e over-wintering of cotton pests. Refreshing the modules of cotton IPM. Awareness of effective Microbes (EM technology) Awareness workshop for Nazims. Naib Nazims, notables/progressive farmers, line departments and representatives of local government will be conducted. Educate farmers to comply with the international quality standards regarding pesticides residues in the exportable commodities. Follow up sample survey of the cotton crop to determine the extent of pest damage and average number of insecticide sprays being applied by the farming communities. Initiation of the process of organic cotton registration. Data collection, field monitoring and evaluation of data. Reporting and documentation of the findings. Anticipated output of project: Demonstration of IPM/ICM of Cotton pest for direct benefit to the farming communities and selected villages of the UC 45-P and Bagh-o-Bahar of Tehsil Khan Pur and District Rahim Yar Khan. Reduced number of pesticides sprays including Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Up to 60% in current year. Decreased incidence of Insecticide related diseases by educating the area people through FFS. Cost on pesticides decreased to Rs 1500-2000 per acre in the targeted area. Community capacity building for undertaking the project. Increase in awareness level of local government representatives, governments departments and notables of the area. 2. Justification for Support - Linkages with GEF Themes and Operational Programs (not more than 300 words) Following reasons paved path for the continuous support for the development of cotton IPM project in District Rahim Yar Khan. Rahim Yar Khan is the best suitable piece of land with favorable climatic condition for cotton crop in Pakistan and is the main cash crop of the area with no substitute. The indiscriminate use of pesticides resulting in high cost of crop and health hazards for human as well as live stock. First years investment in shape of money and time in the proposed activity by UNDP-HDF and ECI resulted in a fruitful manner. The local community is in the phase of internalization of the IPM methodology and its extension will help achieve the themes of GEF/SGP. Elimination of Human friendly organisms from environment that result in degradation of biodiversity. Non availability of support organization for provision of guidance and techniques. Non- availability of IPM services in the area on continuous basis. Low literacy rate and un-awareness about the hazardous effects of pesticide. Increased environmental pollution including soil, water and air. Increase in poverty by increasing the prices of pesticides. The aims and goals of the project are, if on one side very fundamental and indigenous at the same time on other hand, are very important and indispensable. Though the project has started very recently and it will take a considerable period to bring awareness among the farmers about the cotton IPM, its replication and consolidation in the whole area. 3. Context/Baseline (not more than 300 words) Background Pakistan is very fertile

Pakistan