Food security issues have emerged as a global issue after the Russia-Ukraine War. Food shortage can cause famine-like situation in some developing countries
Food security issues have emerged as a global issue. After the war between Russia and Ukraine, food shortage could cause famine-like situation in some developing countries. Undoubtedly, food security is based on main three pillars, food availability, and sustainable economic access of food, effective utilization and absorption.
Food availability, first pillar of food security, concerns sufficient quantity of food available to all the individuals within a country on sustainable basis. As the population increases, country should use modern technology in order to increase productivity, especially in areas such as Sindh, South Punjab that are affected by global warming and natural disaster such as floods. After the flood the number of production of wheat and rice dramatically change.
Second pillar of food security, sustainable economy access for food. Food access possible only when all the citizen have enough resources to acquire food. If the people don’t have desirable income they will not access food even if food availability is in abundance. According to Asian Development Bank (ADB) 30% hike in food prices can push 10.4 million people to poverty in Pakistan. Resultantly, people suffering even for basic necessities. Famines can occur without any decline of food availability. Such that famine of Bangladesh in 1974 despite peak food availability.
The third pillar of food security is “effective food utilization” with sufficient diet and energy. It requires people have accessible knowledge about nutrition, diet along with access of clean water and food. The deficiency of nutrition in Thar, Sindh is an example of the dire consequences of lacking effective food utilization. Hundreds of children died due to nutrition deficiency. Government has not provide them enough water and food. In every year State Bank of Pakistan issued report for food security. Succinctly speaking reports’ results going to worse condition. Government should take step to secure food in order to alleviating poverty.
Saffeer Hussain
Hailing from Larkana, Sindh
Student of Business Administration NUML University Islamabad.
