“Leave no one behind. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.” We commemorate World Food Day at a critical moment when Pakistan is embarking on a road to recovery in the aftermath of climate change induced devastating floods. The day is observed to create awareness about global hunger, malnutrition and the need for collective actions to ensure food and nutritional security for all. This year’s theme “Leave no one behind" reminds us to collectively struggle to end poverty and hunger; and realize that the food we choose and the way we consume it, affects our health and that of our planet. Pakistan is blessed with a rich natural resource base for agriculture. We are proud of our ancient Indus valley civilization, which was based on agriculture. However, due to many factors including climate change, natural resource degradation, increasing input prices, lack of farm machinery and fluctuating markets, the conditions for agricultural production in Pakistan are quite challenging. Unfortunately, crop losses in Pakistan due to extreme weather conditions are becoming a common phenomenon. Therefore, mitigating climate change, minimizing crop losses, improving yields and enhancing livelihoods are our great challenges. The devastating floods during this year’s monsoon have played havoc with Pakistan affecting over 33 million people, resulting in the loss of livestock, standing crops and essential infrastructure. Sindh province, which produces around one third of the country’s food supply, has been the hardest hit by the rains, which damaged around 50 percent of the province’s total crops. The flood waters also threaten to delay the wheat sowing season this fall, raising the possibility of continued food shortfalls and price spikes through next year. It is an alarming prospect in a country that depends on its wheat production to feed itself at a time when global wheat supplies are precarious. This situation has added to our challenges of food security in Pakistan. The damage to Pakistan’s agricultural sector would also be felt across the globe. Pakistan is one of the world’s top producers and exporters of cotton and rice, which have been destroyed by the flood. As much as half of the country’s cotton crop has been destroyed, which is a blow to global cotton production in a year when cotton prices have soared as other major producers from the United States to China have also been hit with extreme weather. The situation is no doubt very challenging. However, Pakistan is fully committed to achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals aimed at ending poverty, improving health and education, and spurring economic growth. In order to get through these difficult times, provide relief to the farming community and boost the agricultural economy, the government is going to arrange a Kissan Conference soon where I will announce a package for the uplift of the agriculture sector. There is dire need for enhancing collaboration with international development partners particularly in the areas of farm mechanization, food processing, livestock breeds improvement and high value horticulture crops. I urge the international development partners and the global community to stand by Pakistan in its efforts to deal with the post-flood reconstruction, particularly in terms of tackling the food challenges. On this day, let us pledge to work together to play our role individually and collectively to make the communities, societies and the world at large food secure. Let us also vow to join forces to overcome the hazards posed by climate change to food security. ******
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