ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Minister for National Food Security and Research Dr Kausar Malik on Monday asked the Agriculture Policy Institute (API) to activate the Food Security Advisory Council to serve as bridge between the centre and provinces on the impact of important agricultural policies with special focus on food prices.

Dr Malik gave the advice during a briefing by API Director General Abdul Karim on the function of API and its ongoing projects. The institute is a policy research and data administration arm of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

The caretaker minister stated that API should work on the unified comprehensive plan on food supply chain in consultation with provinces which would pave way for the control of artificial hike in food prices.

The existing market committees in the country need to be reassessed with the cooperation of provinces to identify major issues and gaps at grassroots level.

The prime objective of the institute is to analyse the impact of important agricultural policies on consumers, processors and exports as well as making the commodities more competitive by reducing cost of production and to assist the ministry in formulating research-based policy formulation including price stabilisation for major crops.

Among the eight core functions of API is to conduct studies on emerging policy issues, analyse the impacts of agricultural policies on groups such as consumers, traders, processors, and exporters and advice for policy adjustments for greater productivity and equity.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2023