Agricultural Policies and Food Security in Pakistan

Agriculture plays a critical role in enhancing nutrition and health, particularly in rural communities. Over the past four decades, agricultural advancements, such as the Green Revolution, have doubled cereal production, significantly improving food availability and affordability. These improvements have helped boost rural incomes, enabling households to produce, purchase, and consume better-quality food, leading to healthier diets and economic growth. Additionally, agricultural activities strengthen the economy by increasing government revenues, which fund health, infrastructure, and nutrition programs.

However, in developing countries like Pakistan, there remains a gap between agricultural productivity and nutritional outcomes. Despite high food production in certain areas, malnutrition persists, driven by economic disparities, social inequalities, and infrastructural limitations. According to the Pakistan National Nutrition Survey (2018), 40.2% of children under five suffer from stunted growth, and 17.7% experience wasting due to poor dietary intake. Moreover, 42.6% of women of reproductive age are anemic, highlighting the disconnect between food production and nutrition security.

Governments frequently use agricultural subsidies to stabilize food supply and support farmers. Over the past 15 years, subsidies have accounted for 0.3-0.7% of GDP in major economies, with over half of government agricultural spending allocated to subsidies. In Pakistan, agricultural subsidies have helped farmers manage risks, stabilize food prices, reduce import reliance, and boost rural incomes. However, these subsidies often serve as a political tool, influencing voters rather than addressing long-term food security challenges.

In response to global food crises, many governments increased agricultural subsidies following the Russia-Ukraine war to counter rising food prices. Pakistan, which imports a significant portion of its wheat and edible oil, also faced food price inflation due to supply chain disruptions.

Export restrictions have also played a role in shaping Pakistan’s agricultural markets. While temporary food export bans can increase local food availability, they harm producers by limiting market access and reducing profitability. If not paired with price support mechanisms, these restrictions fail to benefit rural communities, where farming is a primary livelihood.

Pakistan’s economic growth rate was 6.2% in FY22, but macroeconomic instability—including rising input costs, climate risks, and global trade fluctuations pose challenges for sustainable agricultural development. Balancing free trade and protectionist policies is essential to ensure both farmer profitability and consumer affordability.

Economic Consequences on Nutrition in Rural Communities

Agricultural policies significantly impact food availability, affordability, and nutrition in rural Pakistan. While subsidies and price protections benefit producers by stabilizing incomes, they can also increase food prices, making healthy diets unaffordable for low-income households. A recent FAO report found that in Pakistan, the cost of a healthy diet is 30% higher than that of a calorie-sufficient diet, making nutritious food inaccessible to over 37% of the population facing food insecurity.

Additionally, poor market infrastructure, weak road networks, and post-harvest losses contribute to high food prices and wastage. In Pakistan, 30-40% of perishable food is lost due to poor storage, inadequate processing, and lack of cold-chain facilities, leading to lower farmer profits and higher consumer costs. Limited access to markets also isolates rural farmers, forcing them to sell produce at low farmgate prices while urban consumers pay inflated rates.

Market failures in the agricultural sector, including a lack of price transparency, supply chain inefficiencies, and limited public investment, result in unstable food prices. For example, fluctuations in wheat prices affect both farmers and consumers, making it difficult to ensure a consistent and affordable food supply.

Despite a decline in extreme poverty, rural Pakistan continues to struggle with low incomes and malnutrition. Three out of four poor people globally reside in rural areas, and in Pakistan, 39% of the rural population lives below the poverty line. Rising food prices, climate-induced crop failures, and weak rural employment opportunities contribute to chronic undernutrition and food insecurity.

Northern Pakistan has witnessed shifts in monsoon patterns and an increase in extreme weather events, such as cyclones and floods, which heavily impact agricultural production. Pakistan, ranked 5th among climate-vulnerable nations, is projected to face severe agricultural losses as temperatures rise and water availability declines.

Crops in irrigated and rain-fed farming are highly sensitive to these climate shifts. According to the World Bank, by 2040, Pakistan’s agricultural productivity could decline by 8-10% due to rising temperatures and irregular rainfall. This would worsen food shortages, increase rural poverty, and escalate malnutrition rates in already vulnerable communities.

The Way Forward

To bridge the gap between agricultural production and nutrition outcomes, Pakistan must implement a comprehensive strategy that integrates climate resilience, infrastructure development, nutrition-focused policies, farmer support, and trade regulation. Strengthening climate-resilient agriculture is crucial, given Pakistan’s vulnerability to extreme weather. Investing in heat- and drought-tolerant crops, expanding precision irrigation methods, and deploying early-warning systems for floods and droughts can help mitigate climate-related risks. The adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, such as conservation farming and crop diversification, can further enhance productivity and sustainability.

Improving market infrastructure is essential to reducing post-harvest losses, stabilizing food prices, and ensuring that nutritious food reaches consumers. Expanding rural road networks, increasing investment in cold storage facilities, and developing direct farm-to-market linkages can enhance efficiency and prevent food wastage. This will benefit both farmers, who often struggle with price fluctuations, and consumers, who face affordability challenges.

Pakistan must also integrate nutrition-sensitive agricultural policies to improve dietary diversity. Encouraging the production of biofortified crops, such as iron-rich wheat and zinc-enriched rice, can address widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Expanding subsidized food programs targeting vulnerable populations will further help combat malnutrition, especially in rural areas where 37% of households experience food insecurity.

Supporting small farmers through low-interest agricultural loans, training in sustainable farming techniques, and crop insurance programs can enhance resilience against economic and environmental shocks. Providing farmers with access to modern farming equipment and improved seeds can also boost yields and profitability.

Balancing trade policies is essential to maintaining food security and rural economic stability. Ensuring strategic food reserves, regulating export bans, and encouraging agro-processing industries can protect farmers while keeping food affordable for consumers. By aligning agricultural policies with nutrition objectives, Pakistan can enhance food security, improve rural livelihoods, and promote sustainable economic growth, ensuring a resilient agricultural sector.

Conclusion

Agricultural policies play a crucial role in shaping food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods in Pakistan. While advancements in agriculture have significantly increased food production, challenges such as malnutrition, food price volatility, and climate change continue to threaten rural communities. Despite government interventions, including subsidies and trade regulations, a large portion of the rural population still struggles with inadequate access to nutritious food. The high cost of a healthy diet, which is 30% more expensive than a calorie-sufficient diet, leaves over 37% of the population food insecure. Additionally, poor infrastructure, post-harvest losses, and inefficient markets further exacerbate food accessibility challenges.

Climate change poses another serious risk to Pakistan’s agricultural productivity. Rising temperatures, unpredictable monsoon patterns, and increased natural disasters have already contributed to declining crop yields. By 2040, agricultural productivity could decrease by 8-10%, further straining food supplies and rural incomes. Addressing these challenges requires targeted policies that integrate climate resilience, improved infrastructure, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and farmer support programs.

Pakistan must adopt a holistic agricultural strategy that balances economic growth with food security. Investing in climate-smart farming, market access, and nutrition-focused policies can improve dietary diversity and rural livelihoods. By ensuring sustainable farming practices, stronger market linkages, and better trade policies, Pakistan can build a resilient agricultural sector that supports both farmers and consumers, ultimately leading to a healthier and more food-secure population.

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

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