Former President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Shahid Rasheed Butt, on Monday ,said half of the population of the country with the world’s largest canal system is suffering from food insecurity and undernourishment and added that rising inflation, unemployment and poverty are increasing starvation, which is affecting women and children more than men.

The food security situation in 91 countries of the world is better than in Pakistan, many of which are not agricultural countries, he added.

Shahid Rasheed Butt said in a statement issued here today that the nutritional needs of half of the country’s population are not being met.

The reasons for the collapse of agriculture in Pakistan include government neglect of the sector, low production, poor quality seeds, expensive fertilisers, spurious pesticides and non-availability of loans.

Last year crops were damaged by floods, and now the country is facing a shortfall of 27 percent in water availability for the kharif season. He said that the Kharif crop season is from April to September, in which cotton, sugarcane, rice, maise and mash are cultivated, which will be affected by the lack of water.

Shahid Rashid Butt said that the per hectare production of wheat in Pakistan is three tons, which is ten tons in New Zealand. Suppose Pakistan can produce six tons of wheat per hectare, like Egypt and Saudi Arabia. In that case, the farmers will be prosperous, wheat will not have to be imported, and foreign exchange of seven billion dollars can be earned by exporting it.

He informed that given the importance of food security, dozens of countries use their army to improve and supervise the agriculture sector.