ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on National Food Security and Research on Tuesday unanimously passed the Pakistan Animal Science Council Bill 2023, and recommended launching of a national campaign to reduce food losses.

The bill aims to formulate an apex body for vital sectors of animal sciences degrees, mainly livestock, dairy, and poultry, to develop and flourish responsibility and provide healthy and organic food for the people of the country, says Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan, one of the bill’s movers.

While deliberating on climate smart agriculture, the committee meeting, chaired by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, expressed dissatisfaction at the details provi­ded by Pakistan Agricu­l­ture Research Council (PARC), and recommended that cost-effective modern technologies should be introduced to benefit small farmers.

On the issue of food insecurity and low agricultural yields in the country, PARC Chairman Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali told the meeting that food insecurity is mainly due to rapid population growth, urbanisation, and climate change.

He said the country currently requires 70 million tons of food annually, and that demand will reach 130 million tonness by 2050.

Unfortunately, in the country, 19.6 million tonness of food is lost in parties and hotels.

The committee expressed displeasure over the details provided by the cotton commissioner regarding 3.5 billion cess liabilities owed by Aptma.

The committee sought a comprehensive briefing on cess dues, along with information on cotton varieties, be presented at the next meeting of the committee.

The Plant Protection Department director general, Dr Tariq Khan, said that in 2019-20, cotton crops at 7,045 hectares in Khushab, Punjab were damaged. Around 675 hectares of cotton fields were damaged in Dadu and Shaheed Benazirabad districts of Sindh.

As of now, there is no imminent threat of locusts this season, he added. To make the department effective for future threats, the department has approved 2,421 new posts.

Senator Aimal Wali Khan said that the department should focus on enhancing mechanical support instead of employing 2,421 people, as the country is undergoing economic challenges.

The committee recommended that new aircraft be provided to the department as the aircraft provided in 1950s are unable to perform the task.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2024