Food festival: ‘TCP will buy cotton to stabilise prices’

Minister says food prices in international markets are falling.

MULTAN:

The Trading Corporation of Pakistan has been tasked to purchase cotton Minister for Food Security Sikandar Bosan said on Saturday.

“This is why farmers are getting the right prices for cotton and wheat,” he added.

Bosan said food security in the country was directly linked to farmers’ fortunes.

“Prices of food commodities are falling in international markets. The federal government is committed to ensuring that this does not hurt Pakistani farmers,” he added.

He was talking to newsmen after inaugurating a food festival at Bahaudin Zakariya University.



The event was jointly organised by the university, the Indus Consortium and the Oxfam under GROW campaign.

The minister appreciated efforts to highlight concerns of small farmers.

Bosan said his ministry was keen on joining hands with non-government organisations working in the development sector.

He said it was unfortunate that Pakistan produced surplus food but millions of its citizens forced to sleep on an empty stomach.

“We need to correct this r food distribution system so that all citizens have easy access to food,” he added.

Earlier, as part of activities under the event, experts at a panel discussion urged public to consume organic food.

BZU Vice Chancellor Khawaja Alqama, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University vice chancellor Rai Niaz Ahmad, Sindh Development Study Centre head Shahabuddin Mughal and Indus Consortium director Iqbal Hyder participated in the discussion.

Alqama spoke on the role of academic institutes and universities could play in promoting organic food.

Niaz said Pakistan could increase food availability and access through improved farming systems.

Mughal highlighted Pakistan’s commitments in the United Nations on food security.

The panellists said women bore the brunt of food insecurity because they were hampered by discriminatory policies and practices.

They also spoke on climate change and its impact on food accessibility.

Hussain Jarwar, a national coordinator at Indus Consortium, said hunger and poverty were a real threat to billions of peoples.

“Pakistan is in a very precarious position as poverty in the country has risen over the last decade,” he said.

Oxfam media officer Shafqat Aziz said according to National Nutrition Survey, 60 per cent of Pakistan’s population was facing food insecurity.

He said a household survey had showed that 50 per cent of women and children were malnourished.

Representatives of farming community also talked of various aspects of issues they face.

Faiz Kareem, an organic food stall vendor from Rajanpur, said he wanted to promote organic food because foods grown using chemicals led to life-threatening diseases, including cancer.

A wide range of cuisine and specialties from south Punjab attracted hundreds of visitors.

Theatre performances by Sojhla for Social Change were also held.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2014.