CABI South Asia   

CABI office in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

CABI established a research centre in Pakistan in 1957, with a remit to study and record the biodiversity of the country – looking in particular at plants, insects and plant diseases. From these beginnings, we have evolved from a science-based research centre into a fully fledged development organization where we focus on meeting the needs of farmers.    Small-scale farming in this region is widespread, employing a large percentage of the population in many areas. Farming also contributes heavily towards the GDP of countries in South Asia, making it highly important to the development of the region.

However, many farmers face problems which they are ill-equipped to deal with. They may have a problem with pests and diseases attacking their crops, or may need information on the best ways of harvesting their crops or getting them to market. Perhaps they just aren't aware of which crops are most profitable, or how to go about growing them. Here's where CABI helps. We undertake numerous projects throughout the region to support farmers, providing technical assistance to ensure they have the opportunity to improve their livelihoods for themselves and their families. 

We also have and provide the following:

• A well established insect collection containing over 200,000 specimens; most originate from Pakistan, but we also house specimens from Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia and India
• An insect identification service
• Short training courses
• Specialist staff in who are experts in rural knowledge systems, the commodity value chain, biological control, integrated crop management, and participatory technology development and dissemination for farmers
• Close links with Pakistan’s Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock, the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, and the provincial research and extension systems