MINISTRY OF RESEARCH AND

DEVELOPMENT
BY Sardar Muhammad Abdullah
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive summary……………………………………………..
Introduction……………………………………………………………
The issue/problems………………………………………………
Generic perspective
Pakistani Perspective

Policies (1947-2019)…………………………………………………..
The Current
Policy………………………………………………………
Description
Analysis

The Purposed
Policy……………………………………………………………

Conclusion……………………………………………………………
……
Recommendations……………………………………………………
References
Executive Summary:
In the last several decades Pakistan has progressed much better in line of food production.
However, food insecurity has remained a key challenge due to ever growing population, low
purchasing power and rapid urbanization. According to Food Security Assessment Survey (FSA)
2016, 18% of the population in Pakistan is undernourished. To address the challenge of food
insecurity in the country the government of Pakistan took the initiative to formulate a policy
document for agriculture and food security. According to the food ministry’s secretary, the main
objective of the policy is to ensure a modern and efficient food production and distribution system
that can best contribute towards food security and nutrition in terms of availability, access,
utilization and stability. The document contains different sectors related to food production i:e
Agriculture, livestock, fisheries, poultry, land and water resource management etc. some of the
goals defined in the policy document is as follows;

 Achieve agriculture gro wth at the rate of 4% per annum to improve food security.
 Develop innovations for improving food systems for producing nutritious and healthy food.
 Initiate special programs for reducing poverty and hunger (zero hunger, kitchen gardening,
rural poultry and other enterprises) as per commitment of government towards SDGs.
 Disseminate bio-remediation technology for safe food production in peri-urban areas.
 Develop climate smart agriculture while focusing on the use of bio-technology, resources
conservation and harmonious production packages. (Ministry of National Food Security &
Research, 2017)
The document then focuses on the strategic framework for achieving defined goals. To feed the
ever growing population of the country means developing more effective agriculture system, as
the agriculture system is evolving continuously and adjusting to meet the targeted demand. The
framework includes developing partnership with provincial Governments, entrepreneurs,
research scientist, academia, importers and exporters etc. secondly, periodic deliberations of
National Food Security Council (NFSC) on agriculture developmental issues and food security.
To shift the current emphasis on policies of public sector from few important crops such as
wheat, rice, sugarcane and cotton to other aspects of agriculture such as rising incomes, efficient
use of natural resources, safe food production and equity to empower women and vulnerable
croppers and tenants. To enhance supply level of certified seed. After analyzing the problems the
policy has some major imperatives in order to achieve the settled targeted goals. The successive
food policies were successfully implemented. These imperatives includes the main four pillars of
food security program defined by the international summit 1996 such as food availability,
accessibility, utilization and stability. Food availability is the prime pillar of food security which
is the amount present in the country that includes the quantity or the stock gained by different
farms and agriculture sites. The policy measures for food availability is to recognize the
diversification of the food, its production and its fair distribution. This includes increase in major
crops production, promotion of cultivation & utilization, provision of prices for sustainable
production and introduction of new high value species. Working so will help to secure the
diverse food production and its fare distribution. Agriculture inputs is something of high value
and an important part of the agriculture production and cultivation system, it is needed to be in
focused while making an effective system for agriculture sector. The agriculture inputs contains
certified seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and improving credit market. The National Food Security
and Research ministry is making efforts to overcome the major issues related food security inside
the country. The issues are addressed in a right method with an excellent measures but the
implementation of the policy needed to be full percent, the institutions at federal level as well as
at provincial level has to put their utmost work to make better progress and to overcome the
challenges. The policy document has given the different strategies at different level which is
helpful for different departments to step up towards goals but presently we often witness the lack
of supervision and checking hand over the responsible departments. We are suffering from many
food related issues for which government has made efforts to overcome the problems but
implementation of the policy and working method are still beyond the point.

Introduction:
Ministry of National Research and development is a Federal Ministry which is
responsible for policy formulation, planning for economic coordination in respect of food grain
and agriculture. For this, the Government of Pakistan took the initiative for formulating a national
agriculture and food security policy. The National Food Security Policy discusses the basic idea
of production of food crops, its distribution and its measures to enhance the production and to
ensure its accessibility by all segments of population. Food availability, accessibility, utilization
and stability is far most the very crucial aim of the policy and to ensure that the food distributed
among the nationals is in a fair manner. According to the 1996 world food summit ‘’food security
is when people from all segments, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to
sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active
and healthy life”.
Issues/Problems: -
Generic Perspective:
1. Population growth – this varies considerably across countries. Africa is expected to double
its population from 1 to 2 billion by 2050. Populations in the developing world are also
becoming increasingly urbanized, with 2.5 billion additional urban residents projected in
Africa and Asia.
2. Climate change – currently, 40% of the world’s landmass is arid, and rising temperatures
will turn yet more of it into desert. At current rates, the amount of food we’re growing
today will feed only half of the population by 2050.
3. Water scarcity – this is another impending crisis: 28% of agriculture lies in water-stressed
regions. It takes roughly 1,500 litres of water to produce a kilogram of wheat, and about
16,000 litres to produce a kilogram of beef. In 2050, we’ll need twice as much water.
4. Troubled farmers – in developed countries, less than 2% of people grow crops or breed
animals for food. Fewer and fewer people are choosing farming as an occupation.
Meanwhile, food prices are rising, arable land continues to be lost to sprawl and soil is
being degraded by over-farming.

Pakistani Perspective:
(According to the policy Document)
1. Less focus on dietary diversity, nutrition and healthy food
2. Low level of affordability for nutritious food by the poor segments of the society
3. Problems with the quality, quantity, and timing of supply of agricultural inputs
4. Lack of infrastructure and technologies for post-harvest management and value addition
5. Slow rate of diffusion of technological innovations
6. Low farm gate prices, high price fluctuations and declining international prices
7. Inadequate market infrastructure and trade restrictions
8. Degradation of natural resources (land, water, rangelands, pastures, and forests)
9. Un-capitalized potential of mountain agro-ecological zones
10. Climate change effects on agriculture and livestock
11. Low priority to mainstreaming women contribution in value added agriculture and family
nutrition
12. Inadequate non-farm income opportunities, particularly in the marginalized and remote
areas (i.e., mountains and deserts).
Policies (1947-2019): -
A large number of Research & Development Organisations have been established in Pakistan. The
Federal as well as the Provincial Governments have made considerable investments, but the
financial support has not been consistent and continuous. The private-sector industry has been
critical of the R&D system as a whole. They claim that the R&D institutes have fallen behind the
general expectations. In the first decade after Independence, there was considerable discussion
regarding the establishment of Research & Development within the universities or outside.

The view that prevailed was based on the argument that Pakistan, with its limited resources, should
concentrate on adaptive research and only a limited amount of fundamental research. The adaptive
research, to benefit the industry, was expected to be done in specialised R&D institutions set up,
outside the universities. The universities were to concentrate on basic research. However, when
the R&D organisations were set up, their heads and other senior scientists had to be inducted from
the universities. They lost the link with teaching, but could not establish the link with industry.
The entrepreneurial approach could not be achieved.

This resulted in research projects being selected according to the personal aptitude of the scientists,
in most cases without any relationship with the needs of industry or product-improvement. The
budgeting and funding of these organisations also did not give any incentive for taking up research-
projects based on market-demand or survey of the industrial need for technology. Where any
research was done, it was to produce publishable papers in scientific journals. There were some
attempts at import-substitution and reverse-engineering. Only a few of these had any impact on
industry. The de-linking from the market-demand for technology is illustrated by the approach of
most R&D organisations, with only a few exceptions.

It is interesting to note that, before 1947, the Agricultural College at Faisalabad did considerable
practical research, which resulted in improved agricultural practices and improved seeds as well
as new varieties of wheat and cotton. In those days, the professors at the college were directly
involved in extension work. They were active in keeping contacts with farmers and taking the
results of their research directly to the farmers, through many devices including demonstration-
plots. After 1947, the agricultural college evolved into a university but the Government created a
separate department for extension work. The link with the farmers was considerably weakened in
this manner. PCSIR also expanded considerably after its inception in 1949-50 and it was able to
establish a large number of laboratories for applied search in a variety of scientific disciplines.
This, in itself, was quite commendable. However, its impact on industry is still on the low side.
Very few industrialists even attempt to use its facilities. It must be mentioned, to the credit of
PCSIR, that in order to create this link with industry, a new organisation called STEDEC or
Science and Technology Development Corporation was created. This organisation was to market
the technology and services available with PCSIR. This experiment was somewhat successful, but
STEDEC fell into the trap of producing goods based on PCSIR research and marketing the
products from the pilot-plants of PCSIR. STEDEC can boast of a commercial approach, but it can
hardly claim any technology-sales to industry, which was the real purpose for which it was created.

The higher objective of promoting interaction between scientists and private industry and bringing
projects from private industry to PCSIR, for research and development, could not be achieved.
Some R&D organisations were attached with departments like WAPDA. It was hoped that the
basic financial strength of the parent body and its own technological needs would create a
symbiotic relationship. In most cases, this could not be achieved, as the personnel policies of the
parent body were also adopted for the attached research organisation. At times, this resulted in
perverse situations: the unwanted officers from the parent organisation were posted to the attached
research organisation. This created a serious morale problem within the research organisation and,
in fact, hindered research. The Rawat laboratory, among many others, visibly suffered from this
approach.

The Current Policy:

According to the policy framework, research will also be one of the priority areas to
address the emerging challenges of climate change, water stress, pests and diseases
and other challenges.

Under the policy framework, federal and provincial governments would collaborate to
harness the best utilization of available resources to modernize agricultural production
and improve the accessibility of the people to food.

The accessibility of the food will be increased through market support initiatives and
for a marginalized group of the society will be addressed by launching programs like
national zero hunger programs.
Food utilization aspect will be covered by food safety measures while food stability
will be handled by providing quality production and trade, emergencies and disaster
management, innovation and knowledge disseminating and policy support.

“Three significant aspects hampering the improvement in production of agriculture

including development of resistant crop varieties, provision of quality seed and high
input cost, the government has already undertaken various measures including
promulgation of Plant Breeders’ Right Act, 2016, promulgation of Seed (amendment)
Act 2015, and abolishing subsidy on fertilizer,” Sikandar Hayat Bosan added.

The minister said that during previous few years, the food crop availability had
remained in surplus and most of the crops are being exported.

He informed that Pakistan was producing seven million ton of rice out of which over
three million tons of rice were being exported. Similarly, he said potatoes and onions
are also in a surplus and the surplus crop is being sent to Central Asian and Middle
Eastern Countries.

Responding to a question, the minister said that currently there was an acute water
shortage in the country and stressed the need to develop a national consensus on
building big water reservoirs to ensure water availability for human and agriculture
uses.

He said that his ministry was especially focusing on the efficient use of irrigation
system to ensure non-wastage of water. He further said that water availability will
improve after June 15, but there is need of judicious and efficient utilization of water.

To another question, Bosan said Sugar Control Act was a provincial subject which
needs to be reviewed and enforced to ensure that no sugar industry is built in the
cotton growing areas. In this regard, he said he always voiced against the sugar mafia
at various forums.

Since the creation of Pakistan, there has been no policy framework to address the
challenges of national food security. The government focused on this issue and
assigned priority to formulate a strategic policy framework in collaboration with the
provincial governments, international organizations and other relevant stakeholders.
This policy document will provide a mechanism to address all four components of
food security including food availability, accessibility, utilization and stability, he
added.
The policy document maintained that the current procurement policy and support
price of wheat should be revisited, and may be phased out gradually, identify existing
strategies that benefit smallholders and most vulnerable. The support price for
procurement of imported food crops such as pulses and oilseeds may be introduced to
promote import substitution rather than subsidizing the export of wheat and sugar
commodities.

Best Policy:
Germany is one of the world’s leading countries in research and development. This is due not least
to its strong system of research support. It does not only finance infrastructure and institutions, but
also and especially provides support for university-based cutting-edge research and researching
enterprises, for cooperation between industry and science and for innovative business start-ups.
Germany has set itself the goal of spending 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product on research and
development by the year 2025.

PURPOSED POLICY
Vision:
“A major push will be to put Pakistan on the innovation map of the world through focused
research and development”.

The policy although new in its manner is good in addressing the problems such as
protecting and promoting the industry of livestock, help the growth of research in
the field of fertilizers and seeds for better yield. The protection of fertile lands and
issues such the construction of societies such as Bahria town and DHA are neglected.
The policies of countries such as Switzerland protect the fertile land against these
type of intruders. There are strict laws protecting the balance of nutrients despite the
income difference. The food security policy of Switzerland has been outstanding in
implementing the derived food security policy. The Swiss provide best and most
modern agricultural mechanism to its agriculture system. The Swiss has successfully
implemented their zero hunger program through which they have successfully
protected the food security in their nation. The livestock and the improvement of the
credit market has been perfection in its manner. If we compare the Pakistan’s food
security policy with Swiss food security policy we observe a significant difference
that the Swiss are more focused on the development of their farmers, industrialists
who perform the very important jobs of protecting the livestock and elements that
have been guiding the successful implementation of its food security policy while
Pakistan’s food security policy fails to address these problems. The protection of
fertile land is another problem that has been neglected form the food security policy
of Pakistan.

Recommendations:
First, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), which regulates the quality of higher education
and stresses on the importance of better research output in universities, must provide greater
incentives to researchers who focus on issues related to Pakistan. For instance, universities with
strong industry linkages must be rewarded particularly if their research output is relevant to the
stakeholders across all economic sectors. Investments by the private sector organizations, think
tanks, and trade bodies and associations must be encouraged in developing specific research funds
and avenues for research collaborations.
Second, HEC must focus on applied research and experimental development (as defined in WDI),
rather than on basic research to create new knowledge that is not only likely to be flawed due to
the poor quality of educational and research institutions but also risk being irrelevant to other
researchers and the society in Pakistan. Applied research and experimental development that is
Pakistan-specific, even if it replicates research ideas developed in more advanced countries, must
be encouraged and provided monetary incentives. This will also likely increase the percentage of
research and development expenditures to GDP.
Lastly, the undergraduate-level university education must include courses on the improvement of
writing and analytical skills as well as courses that introduce students to major issues being faced
by the Pakistani society. HEC and the relevant accreditation bodies must design a curriculum that
does not solely concentrate on their specialization courses. For instance, engineering and medical
programs must include courses that improve the writing and analytical skills of young researchers
as well as introduce them to courses that discuss the most important issues faced by the society in
Pakistan. This will help develop research ideas in their respective fields that are more meaningful
to the Pakistani society and increase the returns on research and development expenditures.

Conclusion:
Good nutrition is fundamental for children’s current and future health, as well as their
development and learning. The benefits of developing healthy dietary and lifestyle patterns from
an early age onwards can positively impact on people’s nutrition and health throughout their adult
lives, and enhance the productivity of individuals and nations. Nutrition education is an important
element in an overall strategy aimed at improving food security and preventing all forms of
malnutrition. Schools (from pre-school to secondary) are ideal settings for promoting lifelong
healthy eating habits and lifestyles.
feeding, deworming, vitamin and mineral supplementation, etc. Innovative, creative and effective
school nutrition education programs exist in some countries in the region. However, these are often
small-scale and implemented as pilot projects, focus on children with special needs and prioritize
the transfer of knowledge over the promotion of active learning and the creation of appropriate
attitudes, life skills and behaviors. Generally, nutrition education is not systematically integrated
into school curricula in the region.

References:
http://www.fao.org/3/AI004E04.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_security
mnfsr.gov.pk
propakistani.pk