Report of the Task Force on Food Security

Abstract

The Report on Food Security was prepared by the Task Force set up in the Planning Commission by the Prime Minister of Pakistan in May 2008 to: (i) review the production, availability, storage, and consumption of essential food commodities in Pakistan; (ii) examine the food procurement system and status of storage facilities; (iii) analyse price trends of essential food commodities; (iv) assess the impact of (food) price hike (observed in 2007-08) on vulnerable groups; and (v) devise an action plan for promoting food security for the vulnerable groups. It produced two Interim Reports in July 2008 and September 2008 before the submission of the Final Report in February 2009. The setting up of the Task Force by the newly elected government soon after it had taken over was timely in that it preceded the start of the ‘Rabi sowing season for the next (winter 2008-09) wheat crop, the staple food in Pakistan. It must also be seen in the context of the unprecedented increase in global food prices in 2007-08 and rising threat of hunger and food insecurity, especially in developing countries. The need for evolving a comprehensive national strategy for food security was therefore pressing and urgent. The main elements of the national strategy for food security identified by the Task Force are: (i) achieving a growth rate of at least 4 percent during the next decade (2010 2020) for agricultural sector with special focus on livestock sub-sector; (ii) setting up an efficient food procurement and distribution system for ensuring around the year food security in all regions of the country; (iii) adopting a pro-poor growth strategy to enhance access of poor households to food; (iv) establishing transparent and efficient safety nets for the vulnerable groups. An important contribution of the Report was the construction of a food security index (FSI) incorporating (with suitable weights) major aspects of food security. It also recommended the adoption and frequent updating of the proposed FSI to monitor food security situation in the country.