Most of the rural areas are facing food shortage which needs corrective measures in terms of land reforms, progressive farming and skills to apply modern means of production.
A study on the "Food Insecurity in Rural Pakistan 2003" reveals, "Out of 120 districts of Pakistan, including Fata and AJK, 74 are extremely insecure in terms of food. Tharparkar, Dera Bugti, North Waziristan, Musa Khel, Kharan are among the top five districts which are facing food shortage."
The study, jointly conducted by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and World Food Programme (WFP), was launched by Federal Food and Agriculture Minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan, here on Friday.
The study is aimed at identifying areas, trapped in food insecurity circle assessed on the basis of one or more of the food security indicators.
These areas are confronted with food insecurity-related problems such as malnutrition, hunger, disease and poverty. This initiative is first of its kind in Pakistan with a focus on the food insecurity at district level.
The study suggests agriculture and rural development needs high priority in development plans, which would help in correcting the existing mismatch between food availability and the population's nutritional requirements.
It says, "Institutional arrangements needed for orchestration and integration of a strategy with other socio-economic interventions such as food availability and nutritional security at the national level.
"It underlines the need that to make development process responsive to the needs of the people, such as poverty alleviation should go hand in hand with those aiming at food security."
Addressing the launching ceremony, Sikandar Hayat Bosan appreciated the work of the SDPI and said, "We understand that this study will provide an effective tool to planners and policy-makers to address the issues objectively, and to understand the complementarities and interplay of factors responsible for it."
"The study will guide to understand where are the most food insecure families and population. Discussion on food insecurity will enable the decision-makers to put it on the political agenda and to work in line with the commitment of achieving the Millennium Development Goals calling for eradication of hunger from Pakistan.
"The findings of the study speak loud and clear of the issues that have never been addressed in the past and that have halted the pace of development leading to disparity in terms of food security among provinces, districts and intra-districts level," he added.
SDPI Executive Director Dr Saba Gul Khattak and WFP Country Representative German Valdivia also addressed the ceremony and highlighted the importance of the study.