Pakistan ranks 77th in Global Food Security Index 2014

KARACHI: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has placed Pakistan on 77th position among 109 countries in the Global Food Security Index 2014, inviting attention of planners to formulate policies to pass on benefits of falling international oil and commodity prices to people.
Pakistan’s rank notched a point up in 2014 as compared to 76th position both in 2012 and 2013, showed the London-based advisory services in the study on Thursday.
Developed by EIU and sponsored by DuPont, the report evaluated the food security condition across the world on the basis of three pillars: affordability, availability and quality and safety.
“Food security is defined as the state of in which people at all times have physical, social and economic access to sufficient and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for a healthy and active life,” said the report.
Based on the three pillars, the overall score (out of 100) of the country marginally improved to 43.6 in 2014 as compared to 42.1 in 2013 and 40.4 in 2012.
China got a good 42nd place in this year index, a significant three points up as compared to the ranking a year ago. Its gross scoring was 62.2.
India’s ranked 69 in this year index, one point above its last year ranking.
The neighbouring country clinched a cumulative score of 48.3 points.
Bangladesh fetched 88th position, one point above its last year ranking, with a total score of 36.3.
According to the report food security has improved in most of the countries under evaluation. It found a majority of poor economies benefited from two percent drop in wheat prices in 2013 and a 14 percent decrease in rice price.
It said, “The full impact of cheaper oil on local consumer prices, political stability, and on the fiscal positions of oil exporters and importers will only play out in the months to come.”
“Supplies and stocks of the major grains are very strong, which will push global prices lower in 2015,” said Leo Abruzzese, Global Forecasting Director for EIU.
“The 60 percent decline in the price of crude oil since July also is good news for food security.”
The comprehensive survey analysed motley of indicators under the three pillars. For example, food consumption as a share of household expenditure, proportion of population under global poverty line, gross domestic product per capita (PPP) and other factors were kept under consideration for the affordability indicator.
According to the findings, PPP is the highest in China at $10,060, followed by India ($4,060), Pakistan ($3,130) and Bangladesh ($1,970).
Availability indicator assessed supply sufficiency, agriculture import tariffs, food safety programs and access to financing for farmers.
The data showed that agriculture import tariffs are regressive in India (33.5 percent), followed by Bangladesh (17.2 percent), China (15.6 percent) and Pakistan (15.5 percent).
Diet diversification, nutritional standards, protein quality and food safety were some the factors under consideration for the third pillar.
When it comes to diet diversification, Pakistan, however, outscored some of the major regional economies.
The country has 50 percent diet diversification, above China (48 percent), India (38 percent) and Bangladesh (20 percent).
The Global Food Security Index 2014 ranked US no 1, Austria 2, Netherland and Norway 3rd, Singapore 5th, Switzerland 6th, Ireland 7th, Canada and Germany 8th and France 10th.