‘Farmer-friendly, pro-export policies helped vulnerable population’

Food minister stresses need to adopt evidence-based approach for policy-making

ISLAMABAD:

There is a need to adopt evidence-based approach for policy-making by taking into account the diverse areas impacting food systems including agriculture, education, environment, water, social protection and finance, said Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam.

Speaking at an event held to mark World Food Day on Friday, he stressed the need for enhancing awareness about safe and nutritious food, encouraging stakeholders to produce more nutritious food sustainably and manage food waste.

“Government’s farmer friendly and pro-export policies coupled with financial assistance offered to the vulnerable population through social protection programs (Ehsaas) helped it during the hard times posed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” he informed.

Speaking on the occasion, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation representative Florence Rolle said that the Covid-19 pandemic had hampered the efforts of the entity aimed at ending global hunger and malnutrition.

National Food Security and Research Secretary Tahir Khursheed said that Pakistan had affirmed its commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and made it a part of its own national development agenda through a unanimous National Assembly resolution.

“In this context, Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched the Agricultural Emergency Program which envisages improvement in productivity of major crops as well as expansion of livestock and water sectors,” he said. “These projects are focused on strengthening research activities and providing quality seed of improved varieties, farm machinery and better production packages to the farmers.”

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) acting chairman Ghulam Muhammad Ali lamented that the situation of food self-sufficiency in the country was fragile.

“The trade deficit in food group has stood at around $1-2 billion since 2013,” he said. “Furthermore, total factor productivity and terms of trade also worsened from year 2000 onward.”

The food security challenges have increased by manifolds under the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic as international trade and transportation sectors witnessed a slow down due to lockdowns. On the other hand, the manufacturing experienced devastation as it halted production in many countries for a few weeks.

He also added that managing food and fiber security in future would be challenge.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2021.

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