Speakers for uplifting marginalised segment of society

ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a conference have stressed the need for uplifting the marginalised segment of the society to effectively deal with food security and climate change issues.

Speaking at Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s (SDPI) 21st Sustainable Development Conference in a panel discussion titled ‘The Climate Risk Food Security Analysis’ they said that there is issue of food security in the region and especially Pakistan is facing climate change impacts and requires major uplift and viable approach for the marginalised groups, including farmers and labourers.

The experts deliberated on the idea of food security analysis along with the report launched by United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and SDPI on “The Climate Risk and Food Security Analysis” in collaboration with Ministry of Climate Change.

At the very outset of the discussion, Senior Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at WFP Cristiano Mandra said the report refers to agro-ecological zoning in Pakistan. The terrain of the country is amongst the major drivers of climate change impact over the land, which threatens lives, ecosystem, global and national economy, he added.

Mandra mentioned that accessibility of available food to the marginalised and vulnerable groups is of utmost significance as it would help in mitigating the malnutrition and food security risk in the country. “According to 2016 statistics of Food Security, Pakistan’s 18 percent population is reported to be undernourished whereas the 2017 data shows the figure ending up at 20 percent,” he underscored.

Dr Azeem Khan, Member of Climate Change and Food Security, Planning Commission of Pakistan, said, “We must strengthen the social structure of rural communities to help them diversify their agricultural products with improved economic incentives, value addition and better livelihoods.” He suggested coordinated researches between development and education sector for technical, financial and institutional support and outreach. He also suggested that joint researches on social, ecological and environmental issues in connection with food production should be launched in the country. He called for enhancing connectivity between rural and urban areas.

Executive Director SDPI, Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri said that there is no linear solution to food security and climate change; therefore, all relevant stakeholders and agencies were on board while all participants were encouraged to submit their feedback to develop appropriate proposals for the government in policy making over the food security issue amid climate change.

Dr Amitabh Kudya, an expert from India expressed that it was not only the climate change imposing serious repercussions over agriculture productivity and nutrition but incompatible procurement policies and government’s priorities also served the purpose. He said that the figures in India revealed decrease in the number of malnutrition in the populace declined infant mortality rate; however, the achievements are not up to the set targets but somehow considerable.

“The farmers in India are agitating due to poor procurement policies and lack of facilities. Instead of complete food production security and adaptation, mitigation measures need to be addressed whereas from macro-level production to micro-level distribution also requires due consideration in the process. There is also need of extending the crop insurance scheme to the remote areas along with healthy midday also improved child efficacy and nutrition however, National Rural Employment Scheme should be extended to yield propitious outcomes,” he said.