Editorial

Acute food insecurity

This can help mitigate the impact of future disasters and enhance preparedness

June 05, 2023

A recently released UN report has sounded the alarm on the acute food insecurity in Pakistan, predicting that the situation is likely to worsen in the coming months if the economic and political crisis deepens. The report, jointly published by FAO and WFP, highlights that mounting public debt and the ongoing financial crisis in the country as the key factor. With the country having to repay a substantial external debt, the strain on the economy is immense, making reformation and recovery a formidable task.

Political instability and lagging reforms, coupled with a shortage of forex reserves and a depreciating currency, have severely limited the country’s ability to import essential food items and energy supplies, leading to skyrocketing prices and nationwide energy cuts. Adding to these challenges is the aftermath of the 2022 floods, which caused significant damage and economic losses to the agriculture sector. While on the one hand, local production has dwindled and finances are slim to curtail shortages through import, on the other hand the declining purchasing power of citizens has further reduced the ability to buy food items at inflationary rates. Food insecurity is a wicked crisis that must be tackled on multiple fronts. It is of utmost importance to initiate capacity building measures for national and provincial disaster management authorities to incorporate forecast and risk assessment into their disaster management plans. This can help mitigate the impact of future disasters and enhance preparedness.

The government must take immediate steps to address the acute food insecurity crisis. This requires a comprehensive approach that combines short-term emergency relief measures with long-term strategies to enhance agricultural productivity, improve infrastructure and promote economic stability. Support from the global community is equally vital. Pakistan cannot become another Somalia or Sudan.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2023.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

COMMENTS (2)

Azeem Hakro | 1 year ago | Reply Sir You have written editorial with very strong and convincing arguments and I would also like to share my comments. The FAO and WFP recently released a joint report that highlights concerning indicators regarding Pakistan s hunger and food insecurity situation. The report suggests that Pakistan is facing a severe hunger crisis similar to the situation in Central African countries. The primary reasons identified for this crisis are the country s high levels of debt and a struggling economy which are expected to lead to food insecurity. However the Ministry of National Food Security and Research has rejected the findings of the report. They argue that the country has an ample supply of wheat with 29 million tons in stock in the country. Additionally the ministry asserts that the yields of rice maize and potatoes are expected to be bumper. They believe that these factors will prevent a significant food shortage. As my personal experience in the food sector I agree with the Ministry s standpoint. Furthermore I would like to emphasize that Pakistan is predominantly an agrarian country with around 70 of the population engaged in agriculture. Farmers in the country store wheat for their own needs and sell any surplus in the market. This practice ensures that even if the economy faces challenges there will still be sufficient wheat available. However it is possible that the price of wheat flour might increase in larger cities due to market dynamics. Secondly if we can stop smuggling to neighboring countries in wheat flour sugar and fertilizer we will have enough food throughout the year and we will not face any problems of food shortages. Despite the divergence in viewpoints I recommend the establishment of a committee comprising government officials FAO representatives and WFP experts. This committee can engage in discussions and share their studies to collectively address any issues related to hunger or food insecurity. By adopting this collaborative approach the aim is to prevent any significant repercussions from occurring. In last I believe that Pakistan s agriculture sector has the potential to enhance productivity by transitioning from traditional farming methods to modern technologies. Implementing agricultural reforms and providing subsidies for essential inputs like electricity fertilizers pesticides and fuel can further boost productivity. This increased production can not only meet the domestic food requirements but also create opportunities for exporting surplus produce.

Replying to X