Monday, September 27, 2010
Role of rural development towards national economy in Pakistan
On Friday, the 24 September 2010 Sohne Dharte TV channel carried an hour long interview of Dr. Wajid Pirzada, in its program Agro Online.Dr.Pirzada spoke at length about rural development paradigms and their role towards national economy.He concluded by saying that recent floods in Pakistan have brought home message that we have had disregarded the need for all- encompassing rural development in the country, making rural populace vulnerable to socio-economic and natural disasters.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
WTO and Pakistan's Agriculture
Speaking in a 1 day seminar on Impact of WTO policies on Pakistan's agriculture,organised by the Pakistan Rural Development Prgogram (PRDP)-NGO, in Peshawar on 3oth June 2010, Dr. Wajid Pirzada said that given equal opportunities for agricultural development and export,trade liberalization will be in the interest of developing countries like Pakistan, having natural comparative advantage in agriculture.The agricultural development however, is unequal because of technology, information,infrastructure and ability to subsidize, across developed and developing countries. The WTO rules thus need to address this issue objectively through Doha Developent Agenda (DDA).
At the same time, countries like Pakistan should make genuine effort in specializing in their area of comparative advantge, adding value to agricultural produce and adhering to standards economy for developing competence in competitiveness.Proactive engagement in WTO negotiations, as informed policy, will be rewarding in the long run, Dr.Pirzada added.
At the same time, countries like Pakistan should make genuine effort in specializing in their area of comparative advantge, adding value to agricultural produce and adhering to standards economy for developing competence in competitiveness.Proactive engagement in WTO negotiations, as informed policy, will be rewarding in the long run, Dr.Pirzada added.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Pakistan's Fiscal Budget 2010-11 and Food Security & Poverty
On invitation from civil society,The Action Aid Pakistan & CPRD, speaking in a seminar on Fiscal budget 2010-11: Food Security & Poverty, held in Islamabad on 23rd June, 2010,Dr. Wajid Pirzada a Food Security Analyst and Expert on WTO Food & Agriculture related matter said that agriculture & related activties in Pakistan are a rural function. Majority population in Pakistan ekes out its existence from agriculture.The agriculture sector/ rural economy however, is at risk because of market imperfections, poor infrasrtucture and insufficient investment in public goods.
National government need to be cognizant that provision of labour force, livelihood generation& distribution, natural resource management( including non-renewable energy) are all linked to rual agricultural economy.As such an informed national policy can not ignore this vital sector of economy.Further agriculture like any other strategic sector is one of the basic pillars of national sovereignty, he addded. As food insecurity can threaten socio-economic & political stability.
He appreciated investment by the Government in social safety net through Benazir Income Support Fund, and urged the Government and civil society to join thei heads and hands to augment national efforts directed towards alleviation of poverty.
He said inflation in the country was counter productive in terms of attainment of MDGs, as the poor strata was spending more than 60 % of their income on securing food.Efforts therefore need to be guided to follow a virtuous cycle- investment in small farmers/poor & rural areas, more agricultural production & income, lower fod prices, improved food security & reduced poverty.
National government need to be cognizant that provision of labour force, livelihood generation& distribution, natural resource management( including non-renewable energy) are all linked to rual agricultural economy.As such an informed national policy can not ignore this vital sector of economy.Further agriculture like any other strategic sector is one of the basic pillars of national sovereignty, he addded. As food insecurity can threaten socio-economic & political stability.
He appreciated investment by the Government in social safety net through Benazir Income Support Fund, and urged the Government and civil society to join thei heads and hands to augment national efforts directed towards alleviation of poverty.
He said inflation in the country was counter productive in terms of attainment of MDGs, as the poor strata was spending more than 60 % of their income on securing food.Efforts therefore need to be guided to follow a virtuous cycle- investment in small farmers/poor & rural areas, more agricultural production & income, lower fod prices, improved food security & reduced poverty.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Impact of Import surges on developing countries
Dr Wajid Pirzada, the International Project Leader to the study- Impact of Import Surges on Kenyan Sugar Industry, spent a lot of his time going through the draft report and editing it for content and quality. He offered very useful insights to the report and helped us to refine our thinking. For all this we owe him a great debt.
www.southcentre.org
www.southcentre.org
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Agricultural Policies and Food Security in Pakistan
On May 21, 2010 Dr. Syed Wajid H.Pirzada spoke as a panelist at the National Institute of Management( former Pakistan Administrative Staff College- http://www.pasc.gov.pk/) Lahore on Food Security policies of Pakistan, in the context of national agricultural policies.
Dr.Pirzada in his discourse highlighted the gaps in policies and underscored the need for more holistic and integrated approach.
He opined that in Pakistan food security is equated with availability of wheat only , which was not a realistic approach, though wheat contributes 40-50 percent of the caloric intake and per capita wheat consumption is around 120-130 kg per annum. The access to food ( a function of purchasing power) and food utilization (a function of health & hygiene and health competence) also need to be addressed, alongside food availability( with added emphasis on food diversity), he added.
He told the participants that wheat demand in the country in the recent years has decreased by 10 percent inter alia because of food inflation.
He also underlined the need for integrating water & livelihood security in the national food security paradigm, maintaining that water & livelihood security is intrinsically linked to the food security.
Dr.Pirzada in his discourse highlighted the gaps in policies and underscored the need for more holistic and integrated approach.
He opined that in Pakistan food security is equated with availability of wheat only , which was not a realistic approach, though wheat contributes 40-50 percent of the caloric intake and per capita wheat consumption is around 120-130 kg per annum. The access to food ( a function of purchasing power) and food utilization (a function of health & hygiene and health competence) also need to be addressed, alongside food availability( with added emphasis on food diversity), he added.
He told the participants that wheat demand in the country in the recent years has decreased by 10 percent inter alia because of food inflation.
He also underlined the need for integrating water & livelihood security in the national food security paradigm, maintaining that water & livelihood security is intrinsically linked to the food security.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
APN Regional Workshop on 'Preliminary Research Results' under the framework of APN-ARCP Project on 'Assessment of Food and Water Security in South Asi
On invitation from APN( Asia Pacific Network and Global Impact Study Centre Dr. Pirzada presented a paper on Impact of climate change on Food Security in APN Regional Workshop on 'Preliminary Research Results' under the framework of APN-ARCP Project on 'Assessment of Food and Water Security in South Asia Under Changing Climate (8th March -10 March 2010,Islamabad, Pakistan).
Lead-Pakistan Panel Discussion:Food Security Challenges for Pakistan
On invitation from the Lead Pakistan- www.lead.org.pk , Dr.Pirzada spoke on the challenges being faced by Pakistan in the area of food security in a panel discussion held in the Lead House Islamabad.Other panelists included Dr. Amir Mohammad and Dr. Mubbarik.
Dr. Pirzada underlined the need to address agricultural productivity by investing in research, diversifying agricultural base and moving towards value-added agriculture.
He highlighted issues related to economic access to food, and said food inflation was hurting the poor the most. There was need to develop social safety nets to address this issue, he added.
http://www.lead.org.pk/publications/updates/242.pdf
Dr. Pirzada underlined the need to address agricultural productivity by investing in research, diversifying agricultural base and moving towards value-added agriculture.
He highlighted issues related to economic access to food, and said food inflation was hurting the poor the most. There was need to develop social safety nets to address this issue, he added.
http://www.lead.org.pk/publications/updates/242.pdf
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