Zubair Qureshi
Islamabad
Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved a package of Rs26 billion for a physical infrastructure in the coming years to combat the menace of the pest for the crops.
Federal Minister for Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) Syed Fakhar Imam said this while sharing their views with the participants of online dialogue ‘To Build Back Better’ organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Saturday. The minister said the government had imported wheat to overcome the shortage of 1.7 million tons and it would arrive in Pakistan by January 2021.
The webinar was held in connection with the World Food Day. Syed Fakhar Imam added further that the private sector has also started importing the wheat and it would alleviate the problem further. The Prime Minister’s five years plan of Rs. 277 million program and the Covid-19 Rs 50 million fiscal package programs for farmers as subsidy on seeds and fertilizers will also encourage the growers, he added.
“The government will encourage and support the small farmers by providing research based timely information regarding seeds and climatic vagaries, “ Syed Fakhar Imam said while adding further that the measures would ensure a fair return of their products and improve the quality of living of the people of Pakistan by providing safe and nutritious food to all on fair prices. Mina Dowlatchcahi, the country head of FAO, on the occasion highlighted that the agriculture sector is currently facing two threats that include the threat posed by Climate Change and the other is pests attack. The recent pandemic, she said, has exposed the fragility of our agriculture.
She added further that almost 58% the world’s work force in agriculture consists of women who are more vulnerable to health diseases. Therefore, we need to have short to medium- and long-term plans to address this issue. She highlighted the needs of economic inclusion and social protection of the most vulnerable class. Along with food security, we also need to work on the equation of the availability of safe food and the utilization of food, she added. Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, in his opening remarks earlier opined that the recent inflation is the result of Pakistan’s rupee depreciation as compared to dollar, the gaps in government agricultural and food security policies, and the unavailability of new varieties of seeds compatible to changing environment and pests attacks.
“There is a dire need of supporting the rural economy and the agriculture sector because it not only ensures food security but also provides jobs,” Dr Suleri said and highlighted the importance of having credible data of the different crops production and consumption. He said that it is inevitable for a policy and evidence-based decisions making. Ms Rabia Sultan, Director Farmers Association, was of the view that we need to have a holistic approach which covers from the production of staples to edible oil import. The climate change patterns should be taken very seriously, and the intervention of technology is inevitable to adapt to climate change, the attack of pests and plant diseases like yellow rust.
Vice Chancellor of the Nawaz Sharif Agriculture University Multan, Dr Muhammad Asif, highlighted the importance of plant base food and the gap between production and nutrition of food in Pakistan. He said that we need to increase our production diversity and nutrition diversity. Mr Farhan Khan, Country Head of the Italian International Organization (CESVI), informed the participants that his organization is working in mitigating the overall impacts of disasters and emergencies like the Covid-19 on agriculture and food supply. He said that globally there are millions of people who do not have access to safe and nutritious food, hence, it is our collective responsibility to work on ensuring a suitable supply of food to all.
The speakers, during the question & answer session suggested that food security is a looming challenge for humans and it demands collective action from all the stakeholders like the FAO, national governments, provincial governments, civil society, academia and the researchers. Our acts determine our future. Therefore, our motto should be to grow, nurture and sustain together.
