60% of people face food insecurity
Call for promoting food processing industry to address the challenge.
The country is losing 40% of food in post-harvest handling because of traditional ways of preservation, says Hussain. PHOTO: FILE
FAISALABAD:
Pakistan is facing food shortage as 60% of its people are regarded as food insecure and this requires scientists, food experts and other stakeholders to take immediate steps to address the challenge effectively.
These were the views of Government College University Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Zakir Hussain, who was speaking at a ceremony held to mark the inauguration of a sales point “Green Foods”, set up by the Department of Food Sciences, GCUF.
The sales point will offer jams, drinks and other food products prepared by the department.
Hussain said the country was losing 40% of food in post-harvest handling because of traditional ways of preservation, which could be overcome by applying international standards.
He asked all stakeholders to devise a roadmap to tackle the problem, create awareness among people of the benefits of balanced food intake and help establish a proper food industry. “Malnutrition is caused by lack of knowledge of balanced food and poverty,” he said.
Hussain pointed out that deficiency of Vitamin D and Vitamin B existed in many people, leading to malnutrition and diet could play a major role in overcoming it and for making people lead a healthy life.
Talking about wheat – a staple food for the country, he said the commodity accounted for 60% of the daily diet of common man.
Giving her suggestions, Faculty of Science and Technology Dean Professor Dr Naureen Aziz Qureshi said the country should promote the food processing industry for producing quality food for the people.
Incharge Department of Food Sciences Dr Muhammad Umair Arshad Bajwa, while highlighting that food insecurity was one of the major challenges, urged food experts to sit together to map out a comprehensive plan to deal with the problem.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2013.
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Pakistan is facing food shortage as 60% of its people are regarded as food insecure and this requires scientists, food experts and other stakeholders to take immediate steps to address the challenge effectively.
These were the views of Government College University Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Zakir Hussain, who was speaking at a ceremony held to mark the inauguration of a sales point “Green Foods”, set up by the Department of Food Sciences, GCUF.
The sales point will offer jams, drinks and other food products prepared by the department.
Hussain said the country was losing 40% of food in post-harvest handling because of traditional ways of preservation, which could be overcome by applying international standards.
He asked all stakeholders to devise a roadmap to tackle the problem, create awareness among people of the benefits of balanced food intake and help establish a proper food industry. “Malnutrition is caused by lack of knowledge of balanced food and poverty,” he said.
Hussain pointed out that deficiency of Vitamin D and Vitamin B existed in many people, leading to malnutrition and diet could play a major role in overcoming it and for making people lead a healthy life.
Talking about wheat – a staple food for the country, he said the commodity accounted for 60% of the daily diet of common man.
Giving her suggestions, Faculty of Science and Technology Dean Professor Dr Naureen Aziz Qureshi said the country should promote the food processing industry for producing quality food for the people.
Incharge Department of Food Sciences Dr Muhammad Umair Arshad Bajwa, while highlighting that food insecurity was one of the major challenges, urged food experts to sit together to map out a comprehensive plan to deal with the problem.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2013.
Like Business on Facebook to stay informed and join in the conversation.