Food policy draft finalised to help eliminate hunger

Policy document focused on crop diversification, climate change, natural disasters

ISLAMABAD: The draft of National Food Security Policy had been finalised in order to achieve zero hunger targets in the country, Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan said here Friday.

Addressing an event organised to commemorate the World Food Day, he said that the document was presented to lawmakers and members of civil society for their input to make it a vibrant document to ensure food safety and security in the country.

The event was organised by the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) to highlight the significance of the day and to create awareness about climate change and its effects on the agriculture sector of the country.

The theme of the day for this year was “Climate is changing, food and agriculture must too.” The minister said that the food security policy document gave ample focus to crop diversification, climate change, natural disasters and zero hunger programme. He said there was immense pressure on natural resources and environment due to intensification of crop and livestock sectors in order to feed an ever growing population in the country. As a result, he said it was experiencing rapid groundwater depletion, watersheds degradation, desertification, deforestation and rangelands deterioration.

Bosan said that agro-sector was vulnerable due to the adverse impact of climate changes, which was affecting the struggle to ensure food security for over 180 million people in the country.

The minister informed the gathering that government, taking climate change into account, was taking measures to minimise the use of fossil fuel and was introducing solar pumping system, besides shifting into climate smart crops cultivation and processing techniques.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2016.

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