Bank Alfalah, a leading commercial bank in Pakistan, hosted a Climate Smart Village (CSV) roadshow on “A Collaborative Initiative for Climate Resilient Agriculture”, bringing together policymakers, researchers, farmers, development sector organisations and financial institutions to discuss climate risks facing Pakistan’s agriculture sector and approaches to building resilience.
The roadshow included a keynote address by Dr Yusuf Zafar, former Vice President of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), and opening remarks by Yahya Hameed Wahla, Head of Agri Finance at Bank Alfalah. The discussions examined how climate-related pressures on agricultural productivity can also affect farmers’ financial resilience and access to formal finance.
A dedicated “Grower’s Voice” session provided farmers with a platform to share their experiences of responding to water scarcity, changing weather patterns and other challenges affecting agricultural production.
Three expert panels examined the impact of climate change on agriculture, sustainable water management and pathways for enabling climate-smart agriculture. Participants included representatives from academia, the Asian Development Bank, IFC, FAO and the private sector.
Dr Khalid Mahmood, Co-founder of SAWiE Ecosystems, also addressed the gathering on the Climate Smart Village Initiative and its work with farming communities. The roadshow concluded with remarks by Chief Guest Prof. Dr Ashfaq Ahmad, Vice Chancellor of Ghazi University.
Climate Smart Village Initiative (CSVI)
Launched in February 2025 under a partnership between Bank Alfalah and SAWiE Ecosystems (an AgriTech and precision advisory company), the CSV Initiative works directly with farming communities to demonstrate climate-smart agriculture CSA practices on the ground — from soil health and water-efficient techniques to mechanized, resource-efficient harvesting.
Bank Alfalah’s involvement reflects a deliberate move beyond conventional agri-financing: by co-executing real, on-farm demonstrations of CSA, the bank aims to build a practical evidence base for what resilient, bankable agriculture looks like, informing how climate-smart practices can be scaled and financed more broadly.
