FAISALABAD, Oct 25: One billion people across the world are suffering from hunger requiring strenuous efforts to ensure food security amid climate changes.

This was stated by speakers at a seminar on ‘Climate Changes and Food

Security: Policy Issues’ arranged by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) on Friday.

David Spielman from International Food Policy Research Institute said climate changes were playing havoc with the lives of people and agriculture in the form of increased floods, soil erosion and other natural calamities.

He said more than one billion people were suffering from hunger. He also warned that if tangible measures were not taken, the number would increase. He said it was a challenge to increase the agricultural production to meet the demand of ever growing population.

Former Punjab minister Hussain Jahanian Gardazi said that time had come to make collected efforts to face the challenge. He said Pakistan was blessed with talented people who should come forward for the noble cause.

UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad stressed the need to increase efforts to combat disasters. He said Pakistan faced massive losses because of floods.

He said that temperatures had increased by 0.6 °C over the past century, which were likely to increase by 1.1 °C by the end of the current century.

Pakistan was rated a “high risk” country in the global rankings for Climate Change Vulnerability Index, he added.

Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics Director Prof Dr Muhammad Ashfaq said climate changes were affecting the world badly resulting in droughts and floods.

External Linkages Director Dr Ashfaq Ahmad Chatha said natural resources were depleting so we had to take extra measures.

Intellectual Property Right Director General Tarik Feroze said the intellectual property enabled technology creation and technology transfer by providing the necessary enabling environment. He said that by giving the latest technology to farmers, per acre production could be boosted up to ensure the food security.

Also, Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Pakistan Dr Jong Hwan Song said food and rural development was more important to help nations alleviate hunger.

He said this while talking to agriculture experts at the UAF after inaugurating the Agri Exhibition, part of the four-day Rabi festival of the university.

Around 70 stalls have been set up at the exhibition aimed at providing information to farming community regarding modern agricultural practices to transfer the knowledge into goods and services.