Empowering Flood-Affected Indigenous Communities

Project Report

Empowering Flood-Affected Indigenous Communities

Socio-Economic Resilience in Umerkot, Sindh

Quarterly Progress Summary

Project Overview

The project “Empowering Flood-Affected Indigenous Communities: Socio-Economic Resilience in Umerkot, Sindh” aims to uplift marginalized households by providing sustainable livelihood opportunities. Through vocational training in handicrafts and tailoring, the initiative supports women and youth in achieving financial independence while improving their resilience to future disasters.

During the reporting quarter, IRADO expanded its support to strengthen climate-smart agriculture practices to further enhance the socio-economic stability of vulnerable families.

Key Activity of the Quarter

Land Leveling Support for Smart Agriculture
IRADO facilitated land leveling for small and flood-affected farmers in Village Haji Gul Hassan, Taluka Pithoro, District Umerkot. This intervention ensures improved land productivity, better water absorption, and enhanced crop yields—crucial for families relying on agriculture as their primary source of income.

Outcomes Achieved

• Improved Agricultural Productivity: Farmers now have leveled land suitable for climate-smart and efficient cultivation.
• Enhanced Livelihood Stability: The support directly contributes to increased income potential for small farmers in Haji Gul Hassan village.
• Strengthened Community Resilience: Access to improved agricultural land enhances the community’s ability to recover from previous flood losses and withstand future climate impacts.
• Reduced Input Costs for Farmers: By providing land leveling services, IRADO helped families save significant preparation costs, enabling them to invest more in seeds and inputs.
• Increased Participation of Indigenous Communities: The activity strengthened trust and engagement with indigenous households, reinforcing IRADO’s commitment to inclusive development.

Background:

To address food insecurity and support climate-resilient agriculture, IRADO, with generous support from GlobalGiving, conducted a distribution activity targeting 20 small-scale farmers in the region. These farmers had faced challenges due to climate impacts and economic constraints, limiting their ability to resume cultivation.

Objectives:

Enable small-scale farmers to resume cultivation on their lands.

Improve food security and household income.

Enhance community resilience through quality seeds and farming tools.

Activities Conducted:

Identified and verified 20 small-scale farmers across targeted villages.

Procured and packaged seeds, hand tools (hoes, sickles, spades), and fertilizers suited to local soil and cropping patterns.

Organized a distribution event, including guidance on using the seeds, fertilizers, and tools efficiently.

Provided technical advice on climate-smart farming practices.

Results:

20 farmers received seed packages (millet, wheat, seasonal vegetables).

Each farmer received basic tools for land preparation and harvesting.

Fertilizers were provided, sufficient for one cropping cycle per farmer.

‍ 30% of recipients were women farmers to support gender-inclusive food security.

Impact:

Farmers are now equipped to prepare lands and plant crops before the next season.

Reduced dependency on external food aid, fostering self-reliance.

Strengthened IRADO’s relationship with local communities, enabling further agricultural support initiatives.

Testimonials:

“We did not have resources to buy seeds and fertilizers. This support has given us hope to feed our families again.”

 Somji, Umerkot 

Acknowledgment:

IRADO extends sincere thanks to GlobalGiving for supporting this vital initiative, helping to rebuild livelihoods and strengthen food security among vulnerable farming families in the region.