Challenges of Food Security and Performance of Agriculture

Dr. Kauser Abdulla Malik HI,SI,TI

Distinguished National Professor (Biotechnology),

Dean Postgraduate Studies

Forman Christian College (a Chartered University)

Lahore

World Development Report: 2008 Agriculture for Development

World Bank Report 2008

75% of the world’s poor live in rural areas and most work in agriculture

Majority of the world’s poor will still be in rural areas in 2040

Agricultural growth is the main engine for poverty reduction

Cross-country econometric evidence indicates that GDP growth generated in agriculture has large benefits for the poor and is at least twice as effective in reducing poverty as growth generated by other sectors.

Agriculture in OIC

Nearly all the OIC Member Countries (MC) are dependent on agriculture for food security

According to World Bank Classification, 22 OIC MCs are; ‘agriculture based countries’ with agriculture contributing more than 20% of GDP and more than 40% being rural population.

Agriculture growth in many of these countries is low

Constraints of Agriculture Sector (Local/Community)

Inequities in resource (land and water) distribution

Unsustainable use and degradation of natural resources

Lack of access to agriculture inputs Weak adoption of innovations & technology Complex land tenure and water rights Lack of basic infrastructure& related services

Constraints of Agriculture Sector (National)

Lack of political stability Weak governance and macroeconomic

management Lack of appropriate legal and regulatory

framework Limited financial resources Weak institutional capacity Inadequate planning and development

roadmap

Constraints of Agriculture Sector (Regional)

Problems related to cross border water sharing agreements

Lack of regional transport infrastructure Inadequate and weak regional institution Intra-trade obstacles (non-tariff barriers)

MAIN ISSUES (Pakistan)

Land holding – Small Farmers Increasing Cost of Production Slow adoption of new technologies Marketing Climate Change

What is food security?

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life

DIMENSIONS OF FOOD SECURITY

Availability Local Production Imports

Accessibility Governance / Marketing

Affordability Increase In Income Level Targeted Subsidies

According to the National Nutrition Survey Report of 2011 conducted in collaboration with UNICEF and recently launched, nearly 58 percent of the population is reported to be food insecure

YIELD GAP FOR MAJOR CROPS

Crop Progressive Farmers’

Yield(Tonnes / ha.)

National Average Yield

(Avg. of last 3 years) (Tonnes / ha.)

Yield Gap (%)

Wheat 4.62.6 43.5

Cotton 2.61.8 30.8

Sugarcane Sindh

20054.5 72.8

Punjab 130 49.9 61.6

Maize 6.92.9 58.5

Rice 3.82.1 45.6

WATER AVAILABILITY IN PAKISTAN

YearPopulation (Million)

Per Capita Water Availability (M3)

1951 34 5650

2003 146 1200

2010 168 1000

2025 221 800

Source: MTDF (2005-10), Planning Commission

LOSSES IN IRRIGATION SYSTEM

LocationDelivery at

Head(MAF)

Losses

(%) (MAF)

Main and branch Canal 106 15 16

Distributaries & Minors 90 8 7

Water Courses 83 30 25

Fields 58 30 17

Crop Use 41 - -

T o t a l 61 65

Source : MTDF (2005-10), Planning Commission

WATER PRODUCTIVITY IN CEREAL PRODUCTION IN SELECTED COUNTRIES

Name of Country

Withdrawals of Irrigation Water Per

Capita (m3) / Year

Average Per Capita Cereal

Production (kg)

Cereal Production

(kg) Per m3 of Irrigation

Water

Canada 192 1,674 8.72

USA 785 1,227 1.56

China 401 328 0.82

India 569 221 0.39

Pakistan 1,226 162 0.13

Source: Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture in India, IWMI Publication No. 60, Year 2003.Quoted in MTDF (2005-10), Planning Commission)

Per Capita Availability of Calories (%)

Food Groups 2001-02 2003-04 2005-06 2007-08

Cereals & Pulses 54.9 55.3 53.7 54.2

Edible Oil & Sugar 25.3 25.8 27.3 26.8

Animal Products 13.3 13.4 13.5 14.2

Vegetable & Fruits 6.5 5.5 5.5 5.1

Way Forward

Identify Centres of Excellence (CoE) in various areas of Food Security in OIC MCs

Establish clusters of CoE to encourage multidisciplinary research

Identify common agriculture problems and develop collaborative/coordinated projects

Establish Research Fund to support such activities

Develop synergy and complimentarity with CGIAR centres.