"Nutrient deficiencies should be the top agenda in the next general election" - Dr Mubarik Ali, PC

One of the Planning Commission's main agendas is to tackle the incidence of food insecurity in Pakistan. BR Research spoke to the Planning Commission team that oversees this subject and discussed what impact devolution has had on the role of PC, the menace of food insecurity in Pakistan, and what steps are being taken currently to address this issue.
This interview was given by Dr Mubarik Ali, Member (Food Security and Climate Change) assisted by Dr Amir Irshad, Chief (Food & Agriculture), and Mr. Aslam Shaheen, Chief (Nutrition), all from Planning Commission of Pakistan. Dr Mubarik Ali is also an internationally renounced agricultural economist who in his professional life has intensively worked on food and nutritional security, agriculture productivity, sustainability and diversification, value chain and sector analyses, agriculture regulations, and peri-urban agriculture. He got his PhD from University of the Philippines, Los Banos in 1986. Currently, he is working as Member (Food Security and Climate Change), Planning Commission of Pakistan.
BR Research: Tell us about the structure of the Planning Commission. What are its roles and responsibilities?
PC Team: Planning Commission (PC) of Pakistan is a statuary body chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Deputy Chairman - normally a top planning specialist appointed by the PM - Professor Ahsan Iqbal, who is also the Minister for the Planning, Development and Reforms (PD&R). The technical experts in various fields appointed by the PM and Secretary Ministry of PD&R are the Members of the PC. Additionally, some federal ministries like Finance, EAD and Additional Chief Secretaries of all provinces also have representation in the PC. The PC has 11 technical members supported by 19 technical sections, and Economic, Energy and Projects Wings.
According to the Constitution of Pakistan, national planning and economic co-ordination is the responsibility of the federal government. This role is performed by the Planning Commission of Pakistan, hence called the think tank of the government. Some people call the PC as a "mini government," because almost every Federal Ministry is represented by a relevant section in it.
The main job of the PC is to plan sectoral allocation, approve development projects up to a certain limit or screen projects beyond that limit for the ECNEC, and monitor the progress of these projects. It also co-ordinates international investors and donors, and provincial and national development activities. Recently, however, increasing emphasis is on promoting reforms to improve the governance efficiency and service delivery of various ministries. We therefore suggest policies to improve overall governance structure of the government. We do benefit from the research conducted by various research institutes and universities, but normally do not conduct our own research.
BRR: How has the role of the Commission evolved since the 18th amendment?
PC Team: As said earlier, the economic planning, co-ordination and policy reforms are the roles of the Federal Government and performed by the Planning Commission. This status has not changed with the 18th Amendment. In fact, the role of the Planning Commission has expanded after the devolution as some additional functions, such as women development, have been shifted to the Planning Commission.
In the case of agriculture, the role of uniform formulation of policy, regulatory framework, food and input quality standards, high-end basic technical and policy research (applied research goes to the provinces), international trade of agricultural commodities and inputs are with the PC. Sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, co-ordination across provinces, international donors and development agencies are and will remain the federal subjects. The big difference after the 18th Amendment, however, is that Federal Ministries that have been devolved cannot implement development projects, except in those areas where provincial governments either do not have resources or capacity to undertake a particular development activity.
One particular example is the promotion of olive value chain in the country, which initially was funded by the Federal Government but later supplemented by the Punjab Government. Here also most of the implementation goes to the provinces, except in those areas where provincial governments are weak or do not have capacity. This means that Planning Commission cannot fund development projects to be implemented by the devolved Ministries with the exception of those undertaken to fill the gaps.
BRR: Why is agriculture regulated so much by the centre, particularly wheat and sugar, even after the 18th Amendment?
PC Teams: We don't think so; the Planning Commission wants the market to determine the price of all agricultural commodities with least intervention by the government at any level. However, after devolution, every province started announcing its own prices for agricultural commodities. But this price difference was not based on comparative advantage and created unnecessary and unsustainable advantage to some farmer in some province at the cost of other farmers in other provinces, while provincial governments did not have enough budgetary resources to sustain these prices. Therefore, everyone wished to resort to a uniform price structure announced at the federal level. It is not very clear in the 18th Amendment who will announce the prices; it will take some time to settle down after experiencing the pros and cons of each alternative.
The Federal Government through PASCO engages in wheat procurement for the purposes of supplying food to Pakistan Army and wheat shortage areas like FATA, Thar, Balochistan, etc and to maintain a strategic reserve for any crisis situation. These are important reasons for the Federal Government to get engaged in wheat procurement. It should be noted that Punjab and Sindh are also involved in wheat procurement through their respective departments. However, the Vision 2025 has promised to rationalise the wheat procurement mechanism in the country. The sugarcane prices are completely monitored by the provinces.
The Federal government has to announce international trade mechanism for agricultural commodities depending upon the stock situation in the country because international trade remains a Federal subject. For example, during this year, federal government is providing subsidy on the export of wheat and sugar to dispose of the surpluses of these commodities in the country. Sometimes, import or export bans are imposed on certain agricultural commodities based on the stock situation.
BRR: What is food security? Where does Pakistan stand?
PC Team: Food security is when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs. This is the definition of food security adopted by world leaders in 1996. It is not just producing the main food like 'chapati.' It is a multifaceted challenge that needs to be measured by many indicators that track several dimensions, and therefore should be addressed in an integrated manner.
Firstly, overall, enough food should be available at country level. It involves calculating how much food we need, where we're deficient, and where we have surplus. Right now, Pakistan produce surpluses in major foods, like wheat, rice, and sugar. But we are deficient in edible oils and tea and high-value, micronutrient-rich stuff like vegetables and pulses. All in all, Pakistan is deficit in food during most of the year up to one billion dollars. This does not reflect well for a country that has one of the best alluvial soils, the most intensive irrigation system in the world, and enjoys favourable climate for agriculture production.
Secondly, by food security we mean that it is available to both the consumers and the producers at reasonable prices. Thirdly, production and supply means are sustainable not only over different times of the years but also over generations so that food is available for all times. There are indications that food prices during 2007-13 have increased at a higher rate than the earning capacity of the wage earners. For example, one day's wage of skilled labour could earn 17kg of wheat in 1991, which has reduced to 7kg wheat in 2013. On the other hand, slumps in international prices have created serious problems for farmers to sell their produce at reasonable prices. Moreover, methods of food production are not sustainable as fertiliser and water productivity have significantly reduced over time, and total factor productivity has stagnated or is declining.
Fourthly, food security means that food is reaching every region and socio-economic group, especially to the poor at affordable prices. The National Nutritional Survey of 2011 shows that 58 percent population in the country is food insecure, while 18 percent of women are chronically energy deficient. Finally, the food basket must be balanced so that it provides sufficient macro and micro nutrients. It must be free from bacterial, fungal or harmful infection and residue levels of metals should be within prescribed levels. The last aspects of food security are very weak in Pakistan as reflected by a large proportion of the population that is deficient in micronutrients such as minerals and vitamins. High food infections and high residue levels are frequently reported in the literature.
BRR: What is the extent of macro- and micro-nutrient deficiencies in Pakistan? How are they affecting Pakistan?
PC Team: Micronutrient deficiency is never felt by a person in the same way as hunger is felt, but its effects on the quality of life and on health in the long-term are quite serious. For example, iron deficiency leaves a person unable to concentrate; research has shown that iron deficiency in children leads to lower performance at schools. Vitamin A deficiency may cause night blindness among children, etc.
According to the National Nutritional Survey of Pakistan conducted in 2011, 27 percent of women and 44 percent children are iron deficient; 42 percent of women and 54 percent of children under the age 5 are quoted as Vitamin A deficient. The extents of these deficiencies are alarmingly high and have created nutrient-deficiency driven health crisis situation in the country. About 31 percent children in Pakistan are underweight, 44 percent are stunted and 15 percent are wasted. The death rate among children below five is one of the highest in the world at eight percent.
This nutrient-deficiency health crisis is costing the nation 2-3 percent GDP every year as human qualities remained underdeveloped - lower thinking and IQ levels, unable to bring enough effort, high medical bills, high absence rate from duties, etc. In fact, the crisis is at such a serious level that nutrient deficiencies should be the top agenda in the next general election, which was unfortunately missed in the previous elections.
BRR: What steps are being taken to improve the nutrition situation in the country?
PC Team: Recognising the seriousness of food insecurity situation in Pakistan, the issue has been recognised upfront in the Vision 2025 which is the highest policy document of the country. This is a great success on the part of food professionals and analysts in the country. The Vision has not only fixed target of reducing food insecurity from 60 percent to 30 percent by 2025 but also fixes quantitative milestones for reducing malnutrition, stunting, wasting, and underweight in various population groups.
The government is working on the following five aspects related to food: i) enhance agriculture sector productivity; ii) provide direct income support and build networking for effective co-ordination and monitoring; iii) increase nutrient availability in food; iv) improve access to health services and clean water, especially for women and children; v) create awareness about nutrient deficiency and its impact on health and economic development and improve capacity.
In the agriculture sector, the Vision 2025 promises to increase budgetary allocation to 10 percent, especially for the development of clusters where stakeholders along the value chain can be synergistically linked with each other, services can be delivered efficiently, and markets can be taken to the doorsteps of producers. The development of olive cluster in potential areas is already on its way.
This cluster approach will improve diversification, value addition, and processing of high-value products like fruits, vegetables, pulses, oilseed, and livestock and reduce post-harvest losses. The emphasis is not on self-sufficiency in food, rather on improving competitiveness and exportability to ensure food supply in the long-run, curtail food inflation, and improve food affordability.
The wheat procurement system will be rationalised to improve the participation of the private sector and ensure smooth availability of wheat flour for all time and in all regions. The focus is also on improving input-use efficiencies, especially of water and fertiliser. Possibilities are also being explored to attract investment in the agriculture sector through CPEC.
Recognising high and unaffordable prices of food to a large sector of society in Pakistan, direct income support is provided to over five million poor families who are transparently selected with the involvement of local leaders. Provincial and federal governments and international donors have increased resource allocations to resolve nutritional issues in the country. Multi-sector and multi-stakeholders' national networks are being established; we are a member of international nutritional networks such as Scaling-Up-Nutrition Movement (SUN Network) to improve co-ordination, bring new knowledge and practices, mobilise resources, and monitor the progress.
The availability of nutrients is being enhanced through bio-fortification of cereal crop varieties. Zinc-dense wheat variety has already been developed, and varieties for enhanced bioavailability of iron are being developed. Similarly, fortified food products with various micronutrients such as milk with iron and vitamins, edible oil with vitamin A, and salt with iodine have been introduced. Food supplements, especially for children and mothers, have been indigenously prepared to overcome underweight and stunting. Food quality mechanisms are being implemented through provincial Food Control Authorities.