The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved $250 million for a major adaptation initiative called “Glaciers to Farms”, led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The program aims to strengthen water and agricultural systems in glacier-dependent regions across Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Pakistan.
The funding from the Green Climate Fund will be provided mostly as grants and combined with $3.25 billion from ADB over the next decade. Together, these investments will support projects designed by participating countries to address the growing risks from rapid glacial melt.
By improving irrigation efficiency, water storage, and watershed management, the program will help boost agricultural productivity and enhance community resilience against droughts and floods caused by melting glaciers.
ADB’s Director for Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development, Yasmin Siddiqi, emphasized the urgency of the initiative. “Rapid glacial retreat is one of the most complex development challenges faced by our region,” she said. “With catalytic support from GCF, this program will help build long-term resilience for future generations.”
The Glaciers to Farms initiative will include nine ADB member countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These nations depend heavily on glacier-fed rivers for agriculture, drinking water, and energy.
The program will focus on four key river basins — Naryn and Pyanj in Central Asia, Kura in the South Caucasus, and Swat in Pakistan — covering about 27 million hectares. Around 13 million people, including farmers and vulnerable mountain populations, are expected to benefit directly.
In addition to supporting agriculture, the program will improve climate data systems, early warning mechanisms, and adaptive social protection services. It will also help local banks support agricultural businesses, especially those led by women.
Thomas Eriksson, GCF’s Director for Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, said the initiative marks a major step in climate cooperation. “The Glaciers to Farms program sets a transformative benchmark for managing climate impacts on glacier-fed water systems,” he stated.
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Through this partnership between ADB and the Green Climate Fund, countries in Central and South Asia will gain stronger tools to secure their food and water systems against the long-term effects of climate change.
