The federal minister for National Food Security and Research, Syed Fakhar Imam addressed the ukaid and sdpi meeting on ensuring food security through use of technology in Islamabad today.
The world has been facing a paradox of widespread food insecurity and malnutrition amid net food surpluses. Increased food supplies do not automatically enhance access to food especially by the poorer groups of society. The situation in Pakistan is not a different one. According to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan the right to food as one of the Fundamental Rights and Principles of Policy. Therefore, ending hunger is one of the priority areas of every regime in the country. For example, to materialize such principle, food security and nutrition are highlighted among the main areas of focus to guide all governmental development initiatives with the vision of a Pakistan where “all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”.
In addition, the Government of Pakistan has also expressed its strong commitment to adopt the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a national agenda, both at Federal and Provincial levels. Within this framework, the achievement of food security is emphasized as a top priority for Pakistan, with the commitment to pursue the goal of “ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture” (SDG 2) and the related targets.
Despite strong agricultural base, the country fares poorly with respect to indicators of food security. While figuring among the world top producers of staple foods and diary, Pakistan ranks a dismal 76th out of 107 countries in the Global Food Security Index. Malnutrition is the most serious consequence of food insecurity. The most recent National Nutrition Survey estimated the prevalence of stunting among children aged less than five years is of 44%, an alarming rate which has remained virtually unchanged since 1965. In Pakistan, 15% of children under age 5 suffer from acute malnutrition — the second-highest rate in the region. Similarly, a high percentage of the population is underweight or suffers from micronutrient deficiencies.
These nutritional inadequacies hinder the development of the intellectual faculties of school- going children and young adults consigned to such diets and could thus perpetuate intergenerational inequalities of opportunity and income. The Ministry of Finance has estimated that micronutrient deficiencies alone are causing a loss of more than 2.5% of the Pakistan GDP. This situation also represents a significant threat to Pakistan’s development and stability, as it is recognized that hunger and poverty are among the root causes of extreme behaviors and violence.
However, food security measures alone may have a limited effect on the nutritional well-being of individuals, unless the reinforcing detrimental linkages between food insecurity, disease, poor sanitation and inadequate education are addressed. The dimensions and underlying causes of food insecurity and malnutrition are often complex and extremely location specific. They may differ widely from country to country, and from one location or population group to another, even within the same country.
Beside these, there is a debate by FAO based on food security parameters for Pakistan being food
secure country. The country remained in export regime for quite some years during the last decade. Despite its impressive and continuously growing agricultural production, the country is still facing high levels of food insecurity. According to a global report published jointly by FAO, WFP, UNICEF, WHO and IFAD in 2019, 20.3 per cent of Pakistan’s population (40.0 million people) is undernourished/food insecure. The prevalence of malnutrition amongst children aged 6-59 months is also very high, with an estimated 40% children stunted, 28% underweight, 18% wasted and 10% overweight. Further, around one-fourth (24 per cent) of the country’s population is living below national poverty line and 39.0 per cent is poor based on multidimensional poverty index (MPI).Present Government under the concept of ‘NAYA PAKISTAN’ is fully aware of the needs of the country and has constituted a special task force on National Food Security and Agriculture with a mandate to study agriculture sector and give its recommendations on transformation of agriculture sector for economic uplift of the country. Encouraging agriculture sector for quality production and value addition is an important pillar of our national strategy.
Realizing the potential of agriculture and taking cognizance of the challenges related to agriculture, the present government has introduced “Prime Minister Agriculture Emergency Programme” worth Rs 277 billion to revolutionize the agriculture and livestock sectors. The objectives of the programme include improvements in water availability, soil conservation and shrimp farming. In addition, the programme also includes establishing new agriculture markets which will protect farmers from the exploitation of middlemen. The programme’s vision is “food secure Pakistan, based on modern and efficient food production and distribution systems, can best contribute towards global stability and peace”. The Government’s focus on adoption of new and emerging technology in agriculture sector is expected to improve the agriculture production and sustainability which ultimately help in achieving food security.
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