"We have maintained the lowest wheat prices across the country this year while the international prices of wheat have soared to 450 dollar from 200 dollar per ton," Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hyat Khan Bosan (Minfal) said on the occasion of the annual 'World Food Day 2007.
The programme was organised by Minfal, National Agriculture Research Centre (Narc) and Food & Agriculture Organisation of United Nations (FAO) here on Thursday. Dr M E Tasneem, Chairman of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (Parc), Mohammad Farah, FAO Representative and Secretary of Minfal, Zia-ul-Rehman were among the other participants.
According to the minister, the wheat prices have sky-rocketed all over the world. In the international market, wheat is being sold at 450 dollar to 200 dollar per ton. If we see it from global market's perspective, it means that wheat is being sold at Rs 25 per kg. The minister said that last year we achieved surplus in wheat. "That is why the government has set the production target for 2007-08 at 24 million tons.
He told the participants that the number of under-nourished persons around the world has increased to 840 million over the last decade. Besides, two billion people worldwide continue to suffer from hidden hunger that causes stunted growth and physical deformities, intellectual incapacities and immune system deficiencies. "Every seventh second, a child under the age of 10 dies of hunger. Similarly, the mortality rate among the children is staggeringly high," he disclosed.
The minister said that the government is striving hard to improve and develop agriculture sector by enhancing investment, ensuring technology interventions and policy support to increase production and farm income.
He said that government is spending huge amount on allied activities in agriculture sector such as water, agri-credit, fertilisers and pesticides for improving crop productivity to alleviate poverty and to ensure food security through macro economic adjustments.
"The government is making concrete efforts to improve investment climate, reduce economies, vulnerability to internal and external shocks and to ensure growth path for the welfare of the people," the minister opined. He added that Minfal has decided to launch the 'National Medium-term Priority Framework 2007-2010' to increase the agricultural yields.
The other participants explained the role of agriculture in our country's economy. They said that the agriculture sector is the largest segment of world economy and a source of livelihood more than half of the world population. Pakistan has been a major beneficiary of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)'s support and technical assistance.
Dr Ahsan-ul-Haq a scientist was awarded with Norman Ernest Borlaug award for his research and development of hybrid cotton and pulses seeds. Later the Minister distributed awards and cash prizes among scientists and students who won essay writing competition organised on the occasion.
World Food Day is celebrated every year but it should become a vibrant activity not a ritual one. Every year, most of the people from the elite class gather to celebrate this day.
The scientists and other agriculture experts elaborate their point of view, but why is the poverty level going upward despite the government's claims that it is making food items easily accessible to the poor ones. Can a poor man sleep comfortably when he hears that a 'roti' is being sold at Rs 4 instead of Rs 3. We are used to organise the big seminars and ceremonies like the World Food Day, but are these functions of any use to a poor as suicide report appearing in the press every other day whose children are starving?