Pakistan may face threat if steps not taken to address food insecurity

Islamabad: The speakers at the Food Security Hackathon have called for innovation for food security and regional trade in agriculture through bridging ideas to action through funding partnerships, collaboration, technology and sustainable practices in ensuring food security in Pakistan.

The Hackathon was organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with the Canadian High Commission and National Incubation Centre for Aerospace Technologies.

Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, Pakistan may face an existential threat if appropriate measures are not taken immediately to address food insecurity issues. Trade integration with the region provides Hproducts and reduces dependency on limited resources or locally produced goods, he said. He warned that climate change is affecting the agriculture sector of Pakistan and according to UNESCAP, Pakistan may lose more than 9% of its annual GDP due to climate change.

Dr Suleri said that extreme weather conditions will pose a serious threat to the food security of Pakistan in the future, he said adding that Hunger Index 2021 indicates that Pakistan ranked 92 out of 116 countries. Air Commodore Dr Tauseef ur Rehman, National Aerospace Science & Technology Park (NASTP), said that his organisation has taken the initiative to introduce precision agriculture technologies in Pakistan. The project involves a consortium of stakeholders including the public and private sectors, with a focus on drones, supercomputing and advanced sensors.

Leslie Scanlon, High Commissioner of Canada in Pakistan, highlighted Canada's commitment to supporting projects globally, particularly in Pakistan, focusing on food security and climate-resilient agriculture. She emphasised Canada's contributions to the Green Climate Fund and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, along with efforts to promote science-based policies for genetically modified agricultural products.

Dr Vaqar Ahmed, Joint Executive Director, SDPI said that to turn a winning hackathon idea into a successful startup, it is important to refine the idea, validate it, build a prototype, create a business plan, secure funding, network and execute and iterate.

Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, pointed to root causes such as policy inefficiencies. He emphasised the importance of addressing small farmers' needs and anticipated bright ideas from the hackathon for the commercialisation of knowledge.

Dr Haroon Sarwar Awan, Economic Consultant, Ministry of National Food Security & Research, urged exploration of unexplored areas, particularly in fintech for agriculture, addressing the financial challenges faced by small farmers. He suggested using digital databases and registries to facilitate access to finances, especially for landless farmers in smaller provinces.