Authors: Prof. (Dr.) Bawa Singh and Ms. Diksha Kanwat*
The government of Pakistan prioritizes the food security and nutritional well-being of its population, enacting a range of policy initiatives such as the National Food Security Policy, the National Zero Hunger Program, and a commitment to fulfil Sustainable Development Goal-2. Agriculture possesses the capacity to advance the realization of these specific Sustainable Development Goals, as approximately 42.3% of the labor force is engaged within the agricultural sector, which concurrently accounts for 18.9% of the nation’s GDP.
Punjab, recognized as the province with the most significant agricultural output, is distinguished by its vast cultivation of wheat and rice. Pakistan ranks as the 7th, 10th, and 20th largest producer of wheat, rice, and maize, respectively, on the global stage. The agricultural output of Pakistan serves as a reflection of its potential capacity to combat hunger and malnutrition, thereby progressing towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. Pakistan has achieved nutritional diversity through its production of 4.6 million tons of potatoes, 1.6 million tons of tomatoes, 2.1 million tons of onions, 545 thousand tons of apples, and 2.3 million tons of mangoes. Pakistan holds the fifth position worldwide in terms of industrial production, boasting an impressive output of 4.8 million tons of cotton and 67.1 million tons of sugarcane. The pressing issues of hunger and malnutrition in Pakistan can be adeptly mitigated through the nation’s robust agricultural potential. Consequently, Pakistan has the potential to cultivate a strong basis for national food security and resilience through the integration of innovative solutions and coherent policies within its agricultural sector.
National Food Security Policy 2018
The Food Security Policy of Pakistan describes a strategic framework aimed at achieving a state of food security, ensuring that all citizens have access to nutritious and adequate food, thus fostering an active and healthy lifestyle. This policy aims to create a contemporary and effective framework for food production and distribution, thoroughly addressing the four essential elements of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability.
It is clear that the policy is committed to achieving its main goals by reducing poverty, end hunger and malnutrition, and make sure that all demographic groups meet their nutritional needs. This was done by setting up fair systems for distributing food. Second, it stresses how important it is to have sustainable food production systems in the livestock, crop, and fisheries sectors, with the goal of achieving an impressive 4% annual growth rate. More growth in this sector is needed because it makes a big difference in improving the food supply and keeping the economy stable.
The main goal of Pakistan’s government is to end hunger, and the same has been working hard to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at both the federal and provincial levels. The Home-Grown School Feeding, Family Farmers Support Program, Income Generation Support Program, and Nutrition Support Program are all parts of the policy to move in the food security goal. The National Zero Hunger Program aims to achieve long-term food production, better food distribution, better nutrition, and more ways for people to make a living. This program was created and carried out with the coordination of many ministries.
Hunger and Malnutrition
In July 2023, Pakistan was placed on the rankings of 99th among 126 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI). This report indicates that Pakistan’s score has decreased from 38.1 in 2006 to 26.1 in 2022, while it is important to note that the severity of hunger continues to be categorized as serious. The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, natural disasters, political instability, and armed conflicts have collectively contributed to a scenario where millions face the pressing challenge of food insecurity. Furthermore, the report highlighted that 46 countries including Pakistan may face challenges in reaching a condition of “minimal hunger,” much less the total elimination of hunger by the year 2030.
The health and development of young people are jeopardized by the interplay of malnutrition issues, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity, which collectively contribute to a multifaceted challenge for the people. As a result, Pakistan is committed to achieve the SDG-2, focusing on the eradication of hunger, the assurance of food security, the enhancement of nutrition, and the advancement of sustainable agricultural practices by the year 2030.
The World Food Program says that almost half of the people in Pakistan are at risk of not having enough food, which is a major cause of this problem. A report from the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2023 says that in the last three months of 2022, 8.6 million people in rural areas of Pakistan’s three provinces—Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh—were not getting enough food. These changes happened because of one of the worst monsoon floods in recent years, which destroyed farming and livestock. The main reason why 4 million people were severely food insecure was because of the effects of floods on food production, prices, and ways of making a living. The big jump in the number of people who are severely food insecure, from 25% to 43%, shows that things are getting worse in all provinces, but especially in Sindh.
When it comes to food insecurity, Pakistan was split into five areas that were once called “Crisis” but are now considered “Emergency.” ‘Rabi’ wheat crops and livestock production were damaged by heat waves in March and April 2022, as well as a lack of fertilizer and irrigation water, in most of Pakistan’s districts, even before the devastating monsoon floods of June and August 2022. Because of this, flooding and landslides did a lot of damage and made it hard for about 33 million people in three of the four provinces to live and make a living.
Hunger and poor nutrition are closely linked, and people who are hungry for a long time are often also malnourished. Specifically, this relationship has very bad effects on health, mainly on children’s health, causing problems with their cognitive development, making them more likely to get sick, weakening their immune systems, and stopping their growth. It is important to deal with both in order to improve health outcomes and achieve food security.
Malnutrition is still a giant problem in Pakistan, affecting almost half of the people living there. The 2023 State of Food Insecurity and Nutrition report from the FAO says that about 19% of Pakistan’s people are undernourished and 43% have moderate to severe food insecurity. Even 83% of Pakistanis can’t afford a diet that meets their basic nutritional needs, and almost 40% of children under five are stunted because they don’t get enough variety in their food. In order to fight malnutrition, Pakistan needs a comprehensive plan that goes beyond just making more food. It need to look at food systems as a whole, focusing on dietary diversity, stronger social safety nets, and environmentally friendly and long-lasting farming methods. According to the National Nutritional Survey-2018, about 42% of women in Pakistan who are of childbearing age are anaemic. This number is slightly higher in rural areas than in urban areas.
Can Pakistan Realistically Achieve SDG-2?
Pakistan has been facing significant challenges to achieve SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by 2030 due to its existing natural disasters for agricultural and nutritional frameworks. Pakistan’s position at 99th on the Global Hunger Index has been an indication of food insecurity and chronic malnutrition. This is leading to stunted growth and anaemia in both children and women. The challenges of food insecurity have intensified due to climate change and natural disasters, with floods leading to significant damage to irrigation systems, livestock, and crops. Challenges in food distribution hinder efforts to ensure food security, leading to uneven access to nutritious food across different regions due to unfair distribution practices. Moreover, there are significant gaps exist in research and policy concerning agriculture and nutrition. To realize the goals of SDG 2 by 2030, Pakistan needs to enhance its funding for sustainable agricultural methods, nutrition initiatives, and research, while also broadening its partnerships both internationally and domestically. Nonetheless, achieving the goal presents a significant challenge without a concentrated, multi-faceted strategy that includes agriculture, health, water, and infrastructure. By the existing scenario of economic stagnation, hunger index and vulnerabilities to natural disasters, it seems that for Pakistan to achieve the SDG-2 by 2030 would remain a distant dream?
Conclusion
Pakistan encounters major challenges in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition, even though with its agricultural capabilities. Widespread inefficiencies and outside influences such as climate change and natural disasters intensify these challenges. Even with the government’s dedication to tackling these issues, major chunk of population have been facing hunger and malnutrition. Pakistan is positioned 99th among 126 countries on the Global Hunger Index, underscoring the critical nature of the issue. A holistic approach that goes beyond just food production is essential, incorporating fair resource allocation, nutrition initiatives, and sustainable farming methods. For the goal of eliminating hunger, Pakistan needs to focus on investing in sustainable methods, enhancing social safety measures, and fostering collaboration across various sectors. A unified approach is essential to ensure that every citizen has access to food security. Ultimately, it becomes apparent that despite good agricultural productivity and existing policies and programs, the contradictions of underlying systemic challenges are significantly impacting food availability, leading to an increased hunger index. Recognizing such challenges, it appears that reaching SDG-2 is likely to remain challengeable by 2030.
*Ms. Diksha Kanwat, PhD Scholar, Department of South and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Central University of Punjab.