THE ‘Food outlook’ report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has highlighted the fact that global imports are to hit a record high. The import bill is forecast to reach new record this year, touching $2 trillion. Food imports of the advanced economic countries will grow, while that of the least developed countries is predicted to decline. The report says that it is a concern for both the groups, and has hinted at a decline in purchasing capacity.

Food products, either in raw or finished shape, are moving through Pakistan’s porous borders to Afghanistan. In recent times, it has expanded to an unprecedented level. The FAO report observed that Afghanistan is seriously insecure in terms of food commodities. The national food import bill is almost touching $10 billion. This is despite the fact that the agriculture sector plays a central role in national economy. It contributes 19 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP), and is a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings. It stimulates growth in other sectors.

Things being what they are, food security is a serious concern. Wheat, the most consumed among the essential food items which is cultivated by almost 80pc of the farming community as the first option, is a major crop that covers about 22.70 million acres, producing 27.75 million tonnes of the commodity.

But it misses the 30 million tonne mark which is the national requirement. This is alarming considering the fact that Pakistan had been exporting wheat between 2011 and 2019. Unfortunately, the trend was reversed in January 2020 when wheat had to be imported to fill the demand-supply gap.

The cotton crop contributes to lint production, and its by-product is used as edible oil extracted from its seed, while oil cake is used as animal feed. Its supply of raw material to industries among the agriculture produce is the major source of earnings. Cotton, which once had the record production of 15 million bales in 1994-95, has also been hit badly, with the current production not even half of that record.

This background and history is to remind all concerned of the things we need to do urgently. The first priority should be the provision of food to people. Wheat and cotton are major crops and act as raw materials for two basic necessities; bread and clothes. On the list of all the necessities, food tops it off, followed by other necessities like health and education.

The farmers should be empowered once again. This will bring prosperity in rural areas. Apart from the farming community, citizens at large will be free of the fear of food shortage and high prices if proper stocks are maintained which will be useful in hard times like floods or such other disruptions in the supply chain. Food security, in fact, should be a major item on the election manifestos of all political parties.

Ghulam Idris Khan
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2023