FOOD FOR ALL BY 2000 A.D.

FOOD WITH 2000 A.D.

Entering the 21^st century in a better economic and social environment has been the air of various government. As we move closer to 21^st century, the time available for action is narrowing down. Expert opinions, however, are being framed irrespective of the shorter time frame. A vision of development that can be realized over a span of 20 years cannot necessarily be realized in a shorter time frame of 10years. Development prospective, therefore, will now have to be more action oriented rather than conceptual. 

Agricultural, industrial and social development all have important place in national development, for a country like Pakistan.

Development basically means providing sustenance to the common man in rural areas. Development perspectives, therefore, have to be drawn on lives different from the western models. Most important of all these in foot availability in the year 2000. That   means that for the future of mankind this sector has to be given priority consideration .the population is expected to grow at the present rate of over 2 percent in the country. The public distribution system has made food distribution uniformly possible in different part of the country, but easy accessibility is still a major problem. There are pockets in the country with serve problems of malnutrition and hunger due to poverty. Poverty alleviation programmes are aimed at increasing employment opportunities and income generation, thereby improving the economic standards of the common people. Experts feel that such a process automatically entitles people of food procurement. The long term programmes envisaged under rural development are also not necessarily solutions for short term measures of entitlement or access to food. This is basically a political problem and science and technology can do only little to sort it out.

Pakistan has progressed significantly with regard to agricultural science or even science in general which contributes to the overall rural agricultural development. Different ways of achieving the aims in science and technology are under operation, technology choices and investments in science and technology are earmarked to promote greater technological self-reliance to promote district level councils of science and technology. These councils are to look into the required needs with regard to science and technology.

Considering only the important aspects of agricultural development to meet the basic sustenance required food, fuel and fodder, it is necessary to consider the population growth by the year 2000. This is likely to create pressure on both the metropolitan cities and the rural areas. Both these will lead to social and environmental disturbances. To mitigate the effects of a rising population, it is necessary to plan the sustainable agricultural growth so that people are in a position to have access to food sufficient quantities and at affordable prices. The needs of the people have to be assured keeping in mind changing developmental perspectives. Necessary steps to fulfil these needs have to be taken.

The new thrust to improve agricultural production will mean that supporting activities have to be geared up. There always exists a gap between the ‘needs’ and ‘demands’ dictated by the common man. Where as in the affluent countries the demands are greater than the needs because of their higher purchasing capacities. In Pakistan demands are always much lower than the needs in the rural areas because of their poor purchasing capacity. Food self sufficiency as reflected has created a false sense of self reliance. With the increasing purchasing capacity of the common man, nutrition levels are bound to improve, thereby increasing the demands.  Setting higher targets will be a higher and more effective emphasis on soil conservation, water management and crop protection facilities. There is very possibility that soil degradation, which required to be checked as more land will be needed for production. Thus a strategy of higher production will also mean environmental protection.

This is not an unrealistic target as has been shown in most of the national and international projects. What is necessary is to match it with a long term policy package with regard to subsidies, inputs and marketing. Ad hoc policies do not help in planned growth, especially in the areas of biological production. Political determination has to back up these ventures. The policy must come in one lot rather than in piece meal.

Government should provide large funds for agricultural scientists so that they an demonstrated these technologies on a larger scale. The rural development policy should be linked with the agricultural policy so as to keep a balance between income generation in the rural areas and improvement in nutritional standards. Otherwise the development process may not be socially balanced.

Food production has been synonymous with crop production. This has generally resulted in a neglect of supporting activities like animal husbandry, poultry and fisheries. After having achieved the initial phase of the minimum food requirement, it is necessary to attain a minimum nutritional standard. These factors can contribute much more significantly in achieving this. Growth and improvement depend on crops for initial feed requirements. Therefore, planning for the year 2000 even on a subsistence level requires much greater emphasis on integrated agricultural development rather than on cereal production.

A continuously increasing population will require a sustainable agricultural growth in the country. This sustainability of a biological system is directly dependent on environmental conditions and targets. The most important aspect under the development perspective for the year 2000 has to be minimum nutritional standard for the common man, thereby avoiding malnutrition, hunger and poverty.