A latest report from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) sponsored by DuPont presents improving grades for the world on an essential report card. The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2014 reveals that regardless of last years odd weather patterns, 70 percent of countries in the study saw food security scores increase over the last year.
However, recently the FAO reported that "the world produces food enough to feed everyone, yet at the same time an estimated one in eight people, or some 870 million, suffer from chronic undernourishment". At the focus of this gap between production and consumption are food loss and waste that appear throughout the worlds numerous foods supply chains.
Pakistan is ranked 77 in overall GFSI 2014 with an improved score of 43.6 out of 100 and gained 17th place in the Asia-Pacific region. GFSI is composed of three pillars: food availability; food affordability and food quality and safety. Pakistans food affordability score is worse than its food affordability score (see illustration), which means domestic grains and livestock produce are not feeding as many people as it should.
A special section in the EIU report on "Food Loss" shows huge problems in national food systems as it points to structural problems in the agricultural infrastructure necessary for food security. The index showed Pakistan slipping one place to 76th in food availability indicator due to food loss owing to weather, disease or pests in sowing season.
During the harvest, losses are often caused by mechanical damage and spillage. In the dairy and livestock sector, loss at the production stage generally entails animal death during breeding while milk production loss accounts for decreased milk production as a result of mastitis (dairy cow sickness).
The report shows that food loss after harvest and storage arises primarily due to improper handling of food, underdeveloped and inadequate infrastructure and inept agricultural procedures.
Food prices are another crucial factor impacting food security with many already spending half to three quarters of their income on food. Pakistan ranks 78 out of 109 in the affordability measure of the index. Vegetables and fruits are now beyond the reach of the middle class families in Pakistan as it is being sold at exorbitant prices across all the provinces.
Food security is as imperative as border security. A poorly-fed population cannot support the economic machinery of the country. Pakistan is lucky with four seasons and finest cropping system but lack of awareness regarding improvements in farming production, processing and marketing practices is hampering the process of the getting full fruits from the potential.
Under the current budget, National Food Security and Research Division would be provided Rs1.07 billion for its several ongoing and new schemes under the PSDP for the fiscal year 2014-15. But that will not be enough. More than that, a change in perspective is in order. A singular focus on food production will not lead to adequate consumption when food availability and affordability are continued to be neglected.