The increasing food crisis has affected millions of people in Africa and now it is rapidly moving towards South-East Asian countries including Pakistan. The global food crisis has affected hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing a surge of socio-political unrest in many countries as families struggle to find ways to survive against soaring food and fuel prices. Currently, many regions in Africa and Asia are experiencing a food crisis that is contributing to hunger, malnutrition and starvation. The increase in population is not only causing food crisis but natural disasters, pest and plant diseases, urbanisation, increasing prices of fuel and fertilizers, shortage of water are the real causes.”
These views were expressed by experts, while speaking at an inaugural ceremony of one-day seminar on “World Food Crisis”: Role of Scientists and Progressive Farmers” jointly organised by Department of Biochemistry, Department of Botany and Department of Food Science & Technology, University of Karachi on Friday.
The objective of the seminar was to bridge the gape between the scientists and farmers. In her inaugural lecture Dr Jehan Ara told the participants that in the last few years, prices of staple foods that feed half of the world increased almost double, highlighting the severity of the global food crisis and concentrated public and private investment, crucial for boosting agricultural production. She added that a new virulent strains of fungal disease, wheat stem rust (Ug99) is spreading very fast and over 80 percent wheat varieties are susceptible to this strain of the fungus. “It could cause devastating crop losses, if its spread is not prevented. Similarly after banana bunchy top disease, mango decline and citrus greening are emerging new threat for fresh fruit export for Pakistan. Matter of citrus greening disease, caused by a phloem inhibiting bacterium is alarming. If appropriate measures are not taken for its control, our citrus export will be at stake,” she said.
Mubarik Ahmed explained the food security problem in Pakistan, and said that if this matter is not taken seriously, Pakistan would be at risk of famine and hunger in near future. Dr Badar Uddin Soomro said that due to efforts of our scientists, yield of several important crops like wheat, rice and cotton has been increased manifold.
These efforts should be continued to meet the future requirements of food. Dr Ehteshamul-Haque told the participants that we lose 30 percent of crops through pests and diseases in addition another 25 percent by post harvest diseases and deterioration.
“Fortunately, as the result of advances in Biotechnology and Molecular Biology new products and techniques are becoming available that are helpful in correct and timely identification of the actual causes of disease,” he said.
Dr Imtiaz Ahmaed said that after several years of research by biotechnological method they are able to produce and commercialised some high yielding varieties of sugarcane which are also drought tolerant. How the pests affect the agricultural crops and what methods should be adopted by the farmers was very clearly explained by Dr Tariq Rajput. Pervaiz Hussain, a progressive farmer explained the problems facing by farmers in doing agriculture and requested to scientists for helping farmers. Fatheh Ali said how we can grow organic fruits and vegetable in home gardens. Dr Athar Tariq explained about the role biotechnology in crop production and assured that he is always willing to do some thing for his country. Abdul Hakeem Baloch appreciated the efforts of the organisers for holding seminar on a serious issue and requested the scientists community to come forward and hold this type of seminar at different locations on agricultural farms so that more and more farmers may be benefited. He requested to establish, plant disease diagnosis and advisory laboratory so that experts advise may reach to farmers before losses occur. Prof Dr Viqar Sultana thanked guest speaker Dr Athar Tariq from California, chief guest Abdul Hakeem Baloch, all the speakers, progressive farmers and participants.
The Dawn
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