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Pakistan is the safest country in terms of food security: minister
RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD (February 04, 2011) : Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Mohammad Gondal on Thursday reiterated that Pakistan was the safest country in terms of food security. Addressing a press conference he dispelled the notion that Pakistan was facing any food security issue, adding the country has surplus stocks of wheat, potato, rice, vegetables and sugarcane.
Gondal said that the production of main foods items including wheat, rice, gram pulse, potato, sugar, maize, tomatoes and milk was in surplus so no question of food shortage arises in the country. Giving break-up, the federal minister said that the country has surplus wheat stock and was exporting the extra stock. Similarly, he added, production of potato has been 3.5 million tons as compared to consumption of 1.5 million tons.
The production of gram was 561,000 tons as compared to consumption of 550,000 tons, the minister said adding the production of milk was 43.56 million tons against the consumption of 35.2 million tons. The minister added that Pakistan's tomatoes production is 5.5 million tons against consumption of 3.5 million tons, adding that there was also surplus in rice and sugar production so there is no question of food shortage.
"The analysts should go through the facts and figures before portraying the picture," Gondal maintained. Gondal said that the flood did not cause any major destruction to wheat stocks, adding that about 120,000 tons of wheat stock was destroyed in Sindh province due to floods, however, added that not even a single grain was wasted of federal government stock.
He said that even the government was exporting two to three million tons of surplus wheat and about 0.2 million tons of the crops has already been exported. To another question, he said that inquiry into the sugar crisis was going on and added that Pakistan would be self-sufficient in sugar next year so need to import sugar would not arise.
He said that the sugar consumption was about 4.2 million tons and the production would be more than that. However, on the issue of prices, the federal minister said that we cannot delink ourselves from international prices while determining the local sugar prices.
About higher prices of food items, the minister said it was another issue, but the government believed in ensuring supply of all basic food items. However, the minister said the world became global village and increase in price of a commodity in one country impact it in other parts of the world.
For vulnerable sections of the society, the government has established utility stores corporation where most of the commodities were provided at subsidised rates. Apart from it, the minister said that for most poor person, there was Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
Gondal totally rejected the report of an international organisation, which showed that there might be food security issue in Pakistan. He said there was a democratic government and they were more concerned about people miseries.
Answering a question, the minister said that about 3.5 million tons sugar production expected this year and sufficient stock of imported sugar also available, and it would be sufficient to meet country's total requirement of 4.2 million tons.
About recent sugar crises, the minister claimed that it was artificial and created by some people. He said the government always wanted to ensure availability of all essential commodities.
Agriculture and Allied - Pakistan - Pakistan is the safest country in terms of food security: minister
RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD (February 04, 2011) : Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Mohammad Gondal on Thursday reiterated that Pakistan was the safest country in terms of food security. Addressing a press conference he dispelled the notion that Pakistan was facing any food security issue, adding the country has surplus stocks of wheat, potato, rice, vegetables and sugarcane.
Gondal said that the production of main foods items including wheat, rice, gram pulse, potato, sugar, maize, tomatoes and milk was in surplus so no question of food shortage arises in the country. Giving break-up, the federal minister said that the country has surplus wheat stock and was exporting the extra stock. Similarly, he added, production of potato has been 3.5 million tons as compared to consumption of 1.5 million tons.
The production of gram was 561,000 tons as compared to consumption of 550,000 tons, the minister said adding the production of milk was 43.56 million tons against the consumption of 35.2 million tons. The minister added that Pakistan's tomatoes production is 5.5 million tons against consumption of 3.5 million tons, adding that there was also surplus in rice and sugar production so there is no question of food shortage.
"The analysts should go through the facts and figures before portraying the picture," Gondal maintained. Gondal said that the flood did not cause any major destruction to wheat stocks, adding that about 120,000 tons of wheat stock was destroyed in Sindh province due to floods, however, added that not even a single grain was wasted of federal government stock.
He said that even the government was exporting two to three million tons of surplus wheat and about 0.2 million tons of the crops has already been exported. To another question, he said that inquiry into the sugar crisis was going on and added that Pakistan would be self-sufficient in sugar next year so need to import sugar would not arise.
He said that the sugar consumption was about 4.2 million tons and the production would be more than that. However, on the issue of prices, the federal minister said that we cannot delink ourselves from international prices while determining the local sugar prices.
About higher prices of food items, the minister said it was another issue, but the government believed in ensuring supply of all basic food items. However, the minister said the world became global village and increase in price of a commodity in one country impact it in other parts of the world.
For vulnerable sections of the society, the government has established utility stores corporation where most of the commodities were provided at subsidised rates. Apart from it, the minister said that for most poor person, there was Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
Gondal totally rejected the report of an international organisation, which showed that there might be food security issue in Pakistan. He said there was a democratic government and they were more concerned about people miseries.
Answering a question, the minister said that about 3.5 million tons sugar production expected this year and sufficient stock of imported sugar also available, and it would be sufficient to meet country's total requirement of 4.2 million tons.
About recent sugar crises, the minister claimed that it was artificial and created by some people. He said the government always wanted to ensure availability of all essential commodities.
Agriculture and Allied - Pakistan - Pakistan is the safest country in terms of food security: minister
: If so why did they require massive amounts of foreign aid during the floods in Pakistan?
as if you are not on a higher place than us on the list of aid receivers in 2010 
