10 million hungry mouths

With destitution on the rise as global economies enter a phase of contraction, hunger is raising its ugly head in at least 10 countries. It is quite unfortunate that Pakistan is one of them, with more than 10 million people malnourished and living below the poverty line. A new report by "Action Against Hunger", released in connection with World Food Day, warns that an estimated 10.6 million people in Pakistan will require humanitarian assistance. This report comes weeks after the South Asian country was ranked among nations with the lowest Human Development Index scores, while also remaining a prime victim of terrorism.

The report cautions that more than 177 million people around the world are in hunger-concentrated zones. Likewise, "acute hunger" has doubled over the past decade, affecting 266 million people across 47 countries. There is a host of reasons behind this decay, many of which stem from environmental degradation, institutional ad-hocism, and rampant corruption among developing countries. As far as Pakistan is concerned, climate-related disasters, economic hardship, displacement and shrinking humanitarian funding are responsible for this sordid state of affairs.

It is also worth noting that Pakistan has a dismal record in terms of budgetary allocations to education and health; according to UNICEF and the WHO, around 55% of the population lacks access to clean drinking water. Moreover, high food inflation, soaring unemployment, and declining household incomes continue to erode the quality of life for millions every year. Pakistan, despite being an agrarian state, has one of the lowest yields per acre. Similarly, unfavourable prices for farmers' crops and the lack of a vibrant farm-industry nexus have amplified the food crisis.

The report should serve as an eye-opener for policymakers. An instant damage-control strategy must be ushered in to feed the hungry and undo the trend of societal disenfranchisement. Food insecurity can only be addressed by tackling water scarcity, salinity and waterlogging, and by introducing mechanised farming.