In district Swat agriculture including livestock rearing is the primary source of employment, where 85% of the population is involved in agriculture. It can be safely said that the livelihood of around 1.5 million people of this conflict affected district (six in every 10 persons) is directly linked to agriculture. This of course does not count the landless inhabitants of the area that
partly or fully depend upon farm labor for living. Public administration, trade and small businesses, followed by construction and transport, are also the most significant sectors of employment for the affected urban areas of NWFP. Self-employed individuals, largely comprising owner cultivators and shop owners/small traders, account for the largest share of employment. Employment in the public sector is the second most important occupation in the affected areas. Self-employment accounts for almost 60 percent of employment in rural areas of affected areas, reflecting the importance of agriculture and livestock rearing, while paid employment in private and public sector dominates employment in urban areas. Notably, manufacturing, utilities, mining and finance account for a very small proportion of employment in the affected districts. This would also
imply that the brunt of the loss to livelihoods due to the disaster would be borne by the informal sector, comprising of small traders, businesses and households engaged in agriculture & livestock-rearing.

Security situation in Swat was anomalous for the last two years, which worsened in January 2009 and culminated during the period May-July 2009, when military started massive operation in the area. More than two million people flee their abodes, which is the largest number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since the partition. People were allowed to return to their houses in August 2009 after successful army operation.

Early assessments conducted by LASOONA reveal that new vulnerabilities have arised due to the mass evacuation. The most severe impacts on livelihoods has occurred through loss of livestock, and other agricultural inputs, including land, in rural areas; and losses to private assets suffered by traders and small businesses. The significant damage to public infrastructure, on the other hand, is not likely to lead to direct losses in employment among government employees. However, the shock to infrastructure as well as institutional capacity of the local governments is likely to have additional impact on the ability of markets, businesses and rehabilitation efforts to function effectively. From the preliminary assessments on damages, the largest losses in urban employment have occurred in the private sector – including, hotel business, trade, small shops and businesses, construction and transport. This sector includes significant proportions of private sector employees and self-employed individuals. The largest source of livelihood loss in rural areas is disruptions in agricultural and livestock based activities, like milk production. The livestock both large and small died either because it was not possible to feed them or were killed in the cross firing between military and militant. Most of the IDPs while leaving their homes sold their livestock, being their only asset, receiving very little prices. Livestock losses, besides representing significant losses in terms of capital assets, have enormous impact on the incomes of households. In many rural households, livestock and poultry are a primary source of self-employment. In agriculture, loss in output and employment has occurred due to inability to harvest crops, loss of acreage for cultivation, and inability to prepare land for the next season. Farming families mainly rely on two crops a year. The timing of the military operation has unfortunately coincided with the advent of harvesting of Rabi crops that is followed by the sowing of Kharif ones. The fruits and vegetables got rotten during transportation to the markets due to road closures and curfew for days. The fruits and vegetables also overripe and spoiled in fields, as the farmers were unable to pick and transport on time due to long curfew durations.

Project Introduction:

LASOONA in partnership with Oxfam-GB responded to the situation by launching a project titled “Emergency livelihood support to facilitate return and early recovery in Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province”. The project aims to increase access to income, food and to facilitate early livelihood recovery. The project will benefit 12,300 vulnerable families in nine (9) union councils, mainly in three sub sectors;

◊ Cash for Work support (CFW) for 4000 families in Union Councils (UCs) Rahimabad, Malookabad, Faizabad/Amankot, Pirkalay and Arkot.

◊ Cash Grants of Rs. 20,000/- for 5500 families in UCs Banr, Tindodag, Barikot, and Kala Kalay.

◊ Agricultural inputs supply to 2800 vulnerable farming households in UCs Islampur, Qambar and Odigram.