Agriculture Action Plan.

The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are considered as the most underdeveloped and food insecure region of Pakistan. They are characterized by extreme isolation, cultural conservatism and adherence to tribal values and practices that have to some extent promoted rivalries amongst the various tribes, leading to features of lawlessness and violence. The rugged and inaccessible topography, limited water resources, high illiteracy and ethnic diversity pose serious challenges for economic growth and human development. Moreover, severe droughts and intermittent insecurity in the last decade have triggered internal migration and further increased the vulnerability of the poor, particularly women and children. In order to sustain adequate standards of living, combat poverty and substantially increase and maintain food security in FATA, it is important to strengthen and enhance the sector of the local economy that currently provides livelihoods for the vast majority of the local population. As indicated earlier, the livelihoods of most of the rural population in FATA depend directly or indirectly on agriculture and its sector environment. The population in these rural communities most affected by the direct and indirect impact of the crisis situation and the return process are nevertheless already amongst the poorest communities in Pakistan and most of them live below the poverty line.