ISLAMABAD:
Access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food is a basic right which should be provided to everyone.
This was expressed by speakers at a two-day conference on “Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture in mountain areas,” that began here on Thursday.
The objective of the conference is to analyse and strategise at local level to improve nutrition by organising rural service providers nationally and internationally.
The delegates representing seven countries -- Nepal, Ethiopia, Peru, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Kyrgyzstan -- participated in the conference.
The event is set to carry out diversified and ecological mountain agriculture and consumption, contributing to implement national strategies regarding nutrition, health, rural development and environment.
It highlighted producing and selling a variety of nutritious products, providing businesses opportunities to farmers, agribusiness, processors, traders, retailers, restaurants and hotels.
It also focused on reviving traditional food varieties, strengthening local culture and providing opportunities for marketing and tourism.
Director of Nutrition, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Baseer Khan Achakzai said that nutrition and food security are key challenge for Pakistan after the energy crisis.
He said that due to the nutrition issues, there are high mortality rate and diseases, decreasing the physical productivity and low IQ level.
He said that after ten to 15 years from now, majority of Pakistan’s population will face nutrition problem, which will also affect their intelligence quotient IQ.
Country Director Inter-cooperation Dr Arjumand Nizami said that there is a need for capacity building of farmers, reduction in
post-harvest losses, enriching of staple food, educating children about importance of nutrition and making it part of their curricula so that their future could be saved.
The conference was addressed by a number of national and international speakers, including Markus Arbenz, Executive Director of IFOAM Organics International, Aslam Shaheen, Chief Nutrition at SUN Planning and Development Commission Burri Stefanie.
They highlighted that in Pakistan, 35 million tons of grains surplus in wheat, but still 58 per cent of Pakistanis are food insecure. One third of the total children are stunted.
The cost of the production is too high. Pakistan government spends 18 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) on agriculture.
They also highlighted that at the global level 40 per cent of food was wasted, two billion people were victim of hidden hunger, while 1.6 billion people were overweight.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2016.
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