Fodder shortage in the winter is a major concern for farmers and households in the Hindu Kush Karakoram Pamir Landscape (HKPL), shared by Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. We are working with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in Pakistan and Lanzhou University in China to improve fodder production in the region. Through a pilot conducted in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, Pakistan, we tested four varieties each of oat and alfalfa at 30 sites. Based on the results, we are scaling one variety each – Monida (oat) and Gibraltar (alfalfa) – for greater production. Close to 300 households have benefitted so far, and with the right investment, these efforts can be scaled across anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 households.

Furthermore, our partners Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Afghanistan and AKF Tajikistan are working to scale fodder production in both countries. Into the future, a well-designed and implemented scaling strategy, coupled with scientific monitoring for the resilience of seeds, will significantly improve food and nutrition security outcomes for the region.