Ministry Of National Food Security Plans To Start National Zero Hunger Program

The ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) is in process to launch National Zero Hunger Program to achieve goals of sustainable food production, improved food distribution, better nutrition and livelihood diversification.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jun, 2018 ) :The ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) is in process to launch National Zero Hunger Program to achieve goals of sustainable food production, improved food distribution, better nutrition and livelihood diversification.

The program will be developed and implemented in collaboration with Ministry of Planning Development and Reforms, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health and Services, Utility Stores Corporation, Pakistan Baitul Mall, Ministry of Education, Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), and Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO).

The international development partners will include United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAQ), United Nations World Food Program (WFP), United Nations Children and Education Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN) and World Bank.

According to official sources, the important components of zero hunger program include Home Grown School Feeding; Family Farmers Support Program; Income Generation Support Program; and Nutrition Support Program.

The sources said that the Government of Pakistan had expressed its strong commitment for the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a national agenda, both at Federal and Provincial levels, within this framework the achievement of zero hunger is emphasized as a top priority for Pakistan, with the commitment to pursue the goal of "ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture ".

Under the new National Food Security Policy, the government will initiate special programs for reducing poverty and hunger (zero hunger, kitchen gardening, rural poultry and other enterprises) as per government's commitment towards SDGs.

The under the policy initiatives, the government will also take multiple measures to reduce food losses along production and supply chain including post-harvest losses by establishing one window operation to extend support to family farmers, issuing benefit cards to meet cost of inputs, initiating school feeding programs in most food insecure districts, cash transfers to the most food insecure households as per BISP policy.

Moreover the government will also establish zero hunger shops in low income areas of major cities of Pakistan, start nutrition program for children under 5 years of age, and pregnant and lactating mothers, launch food and nutrition education and awareness campaigns, and will provide food subsidy on wheat flour and its transportation to the poor people of far flung areas.