THE National Food Security Policy approved by the federal cabinet will form part of the agricultural development strategy for the twelfth five-year plan (2018-23). It will help improve agricultural productivity and bridge the yield gap by the systematic application of better inputs and technology.

It is the first policy of the Ministry of National Food Security and National Research since its creation after the 13th amendment to the Constitution. However, it took five years to finalise the policy and the cabinet approval was accorded at the fag end of PML-N government’s tenure. The previous PPP government also made the draft policy public at the end of its tenure in 2013.

The food ministry has yet to officially launch the policy.

The next step is the formulation of a plan of action to implement the policy. Spokesperson for the food ministry, Dr Javed Humayun, says the ministry is evolving an implementation strategy involving all stakeholders.

The policy implementation is expected to help in promoting value-added food production while creating a new class of agricultural entrepreneurs

Some elements of the policy relating to measures to reduce the cost of production will form part of the proposals being submitted to the Ministry of Finance for inclusion in the budgetary measures for fiscal year 2018-19, he says.

It was Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Sartaj Aziz who took special interest in the final phase of the report and wants to include important elements of the policy in the next five-year plan.

Elements of seeking financial and technical support from international organisations and the United Nations would be incorporated in the next five-year plan, sources say.

A series of national flagship programmes for agricultural development and food security has been developed under the policy, said Dr Muhammad Azeem Khan, member (agriculture), planning commission. Dr Azeem is among the key architects of the policy.

The policy elements will help achieve the four aims which are conducive to improving the four pillars of food security (availability, accessibility, utilisation and stability) as well as the final aim of the policy, which is to ensure stable and adequate nourishment and nutrition for the healthy life of all segments of the population in the country.

The key areas for agricultural, economic and technical cooperation between Pakistan and China will be determined by fully considering the comparative advantage and cooperation needs. There will be an opportunity to produce high-tech, value-added agricultural products at international standards for different potential markets. The commodities that can be potentially exported to China include cereals, dairy, eggs, honey, animals, tobacco, meat, sea food, fruits and nuts.

Officials of the ministry expect that the policy implementation will help in promoting value-added food production while creating a new class of agricultural entrepreneurs. As a result, the availability of diversified food products will increase, which will help in improving the economic access of food to socially deprived communities living in marginal and remote areas.

The policy emphasised that Pakistan needs to build strong resilient agriculture sector to cope with climate change risks since projections indicate that there will be greater variability in weather, with more frequent extreme events such as floods and droughts. Much of the impact of these changes will be on the agriculture sector, which needs mechanisms to cope and adapt.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, April 16th, 2018