HYDERABAD: Senator Taj Haider has said that government intends to reduce the price of grains by providing transportation cost.
He was speaking at the World Food Day 2018 ceremony organized by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at a local hotel at Hyderabad. He pointed out that how water usage should be standardized, and how it could be used for land improvement and increasing production. He emphasized small farmers should be supported with special focus on women peasants that how they should be uplifted from the poverty. He referred that government intends to reduce the price of grains by providing transportation cost. He said Benazir Kisan Card will help them to reduce their cost-share. In addition to that grain-purchase mechanism will be lined with zero hunger. He further said that the present government also plans to open and clean the natural waterways; it will help to revive the delta, and stop the sea-intrusion. He also spoke about the bio-saline-culture, and cotton research of Karachi University. In Tharparkar, the SDGs will be realized in 2024, he announced
Speaking on the occasion, FAO FIRST Policy Officer Genevieve Hussain pinpointed that around the world the alarming signs of increasing food insecurity and high levels of different forms of malnutrition are a reminder that we need to continue with our efforts. She told that FAO landed in Pakistan just after its independence. She told that FAO works with the federal and provincial frame works. She warned that the food security is a global challenge. Other guests On the occasion “Food Security and Nutrition in the World” report was launched in the presence academia and civil society organization representatives. This is a joint effort of FAO, IFAD, WHO, WHO and UNICEF. Waheed Jamali of FAO launched the report and said that there was dire need to ensure food security in Pakistan. He also moderated the program.
Masood Lohar, National Program Manager, Gef-UNDP said that the situation of Pakistan is lagging behind in achieving the set targets. He referred the case of Phuleli Canal is the longest cannel and is being polluted by the waste of various types. He pinpointed that survival needs slit and water. If slit is stopped, then delta will die, and it has reciprocal effects with the monsoon pattern of the country. Therefore, Indus needs water, and must be in such capacity as to carry the slit. He quoted that development sector should believe in papers and proposal, not in people. He suggested that the youth should be part of international volunteer opportunities.
Syed Khadim Hussain Shah of World Food Programme explained that end hunger means availability of nutrient food to human being, especially mothers and pregnant. He appraised the inequality, unjust distribution of resources and wastage, nowadays big threat for the nation. He pointed that there is availability of food in Pakistan, but question of nutrient food, and access to it more important to consider.
Dr. Mazhar Iqbal, a representative of UNICEF told that indicators regarding child and its growth are alarming. And most vulnerable are weaker sections of the society. He suggested that there is vital role of the government, agriculture universities and UN organizations and CSO to come up with multi-faced and multi-levelled plans to address the issue of food security and its distribution.
Professor Mushtaq Mirani emphasized that huge number of people are not accessing the food, and it is all due to wrong policies, strategies and approaches. He quoted that there are successful models to create the wealth, and one of them is to step into the industrialization, he quoted development approaches of Japan. He reminded that under and over usage of resources leads towards poverty. He reminded that ‘haven’t’ group is expanding, and its continuous expansion will damage the social fabric of the country.
Noor Ahmed Baloch, Director General Agriculture Research told that how population growth is constant challenge for the availability of food. Now, there may be various ways, but some of the worlds’ tested methods are to control the birth rate, explore new avenues and judicial usage of the resources.
Hidayatullah Chhajro, Director General Agriculture Extension aired the concern that in the current season, non-availability of the irrigation water is adversely affecting the sowing areas, and it is linked with a low yield. Thus, situation will lead towards low production or yield per acre.
The scholars, media persons and development practitioners also commented on the launched report, the lead commentators were Jai Morani, Jaffar Memon, Ishaque Mangrio, G.N. Mughal, Suleman Abro, and Professor Dr. Ghulam Ali Jariko. The event was moderated by Waheed Jamali.