Food body yet to hold meeting, two months on

It is responsible for policy coordination among provinces, market reforms.

ISLAMABAD: The National Food Security Commission has not been able to hold its first meeting to map out its plan of action, though more than two months have passed since its constitution.

The commission, formed in January, is working on developing a national policy for long-term food security and agriculture sector development.

In the 2014-15 budget unveiled in June last year, the federal government announced plans to set up the commission, which would be responsible for policy coordination among provinces pertaining to productivity improvement, market reforms, value addition and income stability for farmers.

“We have been seeking time from the prime minister for holding the first meeting to outline the commission’s programme for the year, but the PM Secretariat is not responding,” a senior officer of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research told The Express Tribune.

A number of policy issues relating to food security and agriculture departments were to be addressed and settled in discussions with the prime minister, the official said.

Among the key issues, the central government and provinces have to finalise policy matters regarding food security and agriculture development as after devolution of the subject of agriculture to the provinces under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, challenges have emerged in terms of coordination and implementation of policies.

“The primary purpose is to address the challenges of food security and agriculture development at the high level where all chief ministers represent their respective provinces,” the official said.

The commission has five key mandates. The first is to help federal and provincial governments and administrative regions reach consensus on policy formulation for long-term food security.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2015.