In consonance with Rome Declaration of 1996 on World Food Security aiming at reducing hunger and poverty by 50% by the year 2015, Pakistan as a signatory of the declaration, initiated a pilot project in 1998 at four villages under the auspices of Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Islamabad. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations provided technical and financial assistance for implementation of this project in two villages of Punjab and one village each of Sindh and NWFP. Objectives of the pilot project were to enhance the productivity and income of small farmers. During three years of implementation, results of the pilot project were extremely consistent and encouraging. Productivity of wheat and rice crops increased by 60 to 70 percent at all locations. The household income, from wheat crop, almost doubled besides the additional earnings were made from other crops and income diversification activities. Water savings were recorded from on-farm water management interventions ranged from 20 to 28 percent for different crops.

        Success of the pilot project encouraged Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MINFA) to allocate Rs 500 million (US$ 8.47 million : Rs 59.0= one US$) for the expansion of the Food Security program to 109 villages in 20 union councils of 15 districts through a 48-month (July 2002 to June 2006) national program called the Crop Maximization Project (CMP). This project was sponsored and coordinated by MINFA in collaboration with the Governments of Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan and AJK. The strategy, approach, principles and physical components of the CMP were essentially the same as of the pilot project. Productivity of small farmers enhanced by 25 to 40 percent, Village Organizations based on Water User’s Associations were formed, watercourses brick lined and income diversification activities initiated. Farmers and staff were trained for using new technologies. More than 980 households benefited.

        In view of the benefits of CMP productivity enhancement model to small farmers, Government decided to further upscale the project to 1000 villages. As a result, the project Special Program for Food Security and Productivity Enhancement of Small Farmers (Crop Maximization Project-II) was prepared, approved  for five years ( July 2007 to June 2012) at a cost of Rs 8013 million (US$ 130 million: Rs 61.6= one US$) and launched in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP, AJK, and FATA and FANA. More villages will be added in the program every second year after success of this expanded project, with the aim to reach 13,000 villages within 15 years timeframe.