Sindh Minister for Food and Agriculture Arif Jatoi said on Thursday that the government is allocating substantial resources to agriculture sector for improving food production capacity and Rs 30 billion was spent on food, agriculture and livestock.
This he said while addressing a seminar as chief on the occasion of World Food Day organised by National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH).
He said that the country's population is increasing at faster rate as compare to world rate. "If we calculate the world population increases 3 percent, in our country it increases 10 percent. This is the time to ponder over the matter," he said.
The topic of the seminar was 'Accessing Quality Food to Everyone'.
The minister said that Pakistan's seeds growing method is 50-year old. The government wants to introduce new varieties of seeds. For this purpose a national level plan is being made.
"It is a four-year programme for 30 percent water saving by modernising the canal system and reform for rehabilitation of land."
He said: "The Prime Minister has already announced wheat growing campaign to overcome the wheat shortage. The government is also creating an enabling environment to achieve food security at national level. We also introduce new variety of rice and producing edible oil of high value variety."
He said: "Efforts are being made to enhance the use of biodiversity for food security to address poverty".
Those who participated in the seminar included Fatima Surriya Bajia, Advisor to the Chief Minister Sindh, Khawar Masood Butt, MD, EBM, Hamid Maker, Chairman, CPC, Professor Dr Rashida Ali, from Research Institute of Food at Karachi University HEJ Institute Ali Khan, URS, and Siraj Ahmed presided over the seminar.
Naim Qureshi President NFEH highlighted the organisation's efforts and said that standard good food is everyone's need and the government should work on agriculture for good food.
Bajia said: "I am not an environmentalist or a food inspector. I am simply just an ordinary woman who sees abandon variety of foods, fruits, vegetables on the street and road side. "It is our responsibility to distribute the food among the needy persons."The theme of this year is 'Biodiversity of food security' which is aimed at creating awareness and highlighting the role of biodiversity in food production.
Khawar Butt said that Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a good businessman. He was called 'Sadiq' and 'Ameen' due to his honesty." Butt said EBM's responsibility is quality food for everyone. "My factory EBM was built in 1985 and has attained the current position of market leader in the biscuit industry with annual turnover the more than Rs 2.5 billion."
Rashida Ali emphasised on food security. She said that this year the theme should be biodiversity of polluted food instead of 'biodiversity of food security'.
"Open gutters and filthy water is a composition of effluent and has polluted the atmosphere. Urine is seen everywhere due to non-availability of public toilets. It is noticed that where food items have been on sale the urine is seen. The bacteria are growing rapidly in such foods, which is unhealthy".
She said that mostly people burn the garbage. Carbon dioxide is produced due to burning, which is toxic. Carbon reduces the haemoglobin, which causes breathing problems.
"The vehicles should be properly checked specially those which produce excessive smoke. In butchers' shops, they wrapped the meat in newspapers. The ink in paper is toxic. The grilled food is also toxic. They slowly deposit in the body and cause big problems".
She said that contaminated food is more harmful than polluted atmosphere. The liver problems are growing due to contaminated foods, which reduce the life span. Death at birth rate is also increasing. Only 2/3 percent children reach the ago of 5 years.
Rashida also emphasised that environment related subjects should be included in curriculum in school level. It will change a lot.
Hamid Maker said that adulterated and counterfeit products should be stopped. The consumers are their own enemy because they do not protest. If consumers stop buying adulterated and counterfeit products they would benefit.
He said law is there but there is no implementation. It should be ensured that laws are implement. In foreign countries the people come out and protest against counterfeit products.
Iftikhar Hussain said that City government regularly checks the quality of foods and safeguards the rights of consumers. For this purpose the CDGK has appointed 11 inspectors for 18 towns.
"According to food ordinance 1960, no person shall directly or indirectly, prepare, manufacture, keep or store for sale food item which is unsound, injurious to human health".
He said that in the world, 800 million people do not get food. They need to lead an active, healthy life. Seventeen countries face severe food shortages, 37 countries have inadequate food supplies.