Every day, hunger and poverty claims 25,000 people, while of the global population of nearly seven billion, over 850 million people do not get to eat the food which they need. In national research study, conducted by Oxfam GB Pakistan programme, "Food crisis in Pakistan either real or artificial," Oxfam calls for immediate actions to be taken by the government, international communities and donors on food price crisis.
The study reveals that small farmers in developing countries, including Pakistan, are struggling because of the flawed trade and agricultural policies have made them vulnerable and weakened their positions in markets. The government should ensure that the poorest consumers are protected from high and volatile food prices, says the study.
The international community must support these governments and donors must commit additional financial resources to help meet poor people's food needs in the short and long term.
Investment in and support to small-scale, sustainable agriculture must increase and lessons must be learnt for the future, and changes must be made to ensure that benefits reach small-scale producers in remote markets, not just large-scale commercial operations.
Since December 2006 in Pakistan, a supply shortfall and a consequent price rise of flour, a staple food item, poses a huge threat to the poor people, who typically spend 50-80 percent of their income on food. Moreover, prices of various food items have risen in a market left unregulated since 1999. It was only on the eve of general elections in January 2008 that people realised that Pakistan was facing a full-blown crisis of flour shortage, said Country Director of Oxfam GB-Pakistan programme Iftikhar Ahmad Khalid.
"Misguided or inadequate national agricultural policies, coupled with unfair trade rules and poor economic advice, has created a situation where big traders and supermarkets are gaining from price rises, and small farmers and consumers are losing out", the report highlights.