Water conservation: government fails to implement policies: MHHDC report

The government has allocated Rs 5.1 billion for improving water resources but failed to implement policies and utilised only Rs 672 million, reveals a report on Human Development in South Asia 2010/2011: Food Security in South Asia published released by Mahbub-ul-Haq Human Development Center (MHHDC).
The report warns that if current trend continues, water scarcity in Pakistan by 2020 would reach a level where it could disrupt economic activity and hamper health and well being of people. Realising the gravity of water scarcity which is threat to the country's future of agriculture, the report recommends that agricultural research should develop water-saving technologies and design proper lining of water courses to curtail wastage of water in channels and canals.
The report suggested that farmers associated with livestock, dairy and fishery and investments for development purposes like water conservation and infrastructure development should be included in the credit schemes. Despite immense contribution of agriculture to GDP, the sector merely receives 5.1 percent of the total institutional credit.
In order to improve food security and reduce poverty in the country, Pakistan needs to develop a pro-poor growth strategy and ensure social safety nets for the poor. The report suggests a five-point strategy, which emphasises that the poor should be the part of the growth process and policies. The elements of the strategy are promoting non-farm employment by increasing public and private investment in physical and social infrastructures like building roads and providing health and education facilities. Diversification of livelihood in rural economy through farm and non-farm employment opportunities is extremely vital to ensure food security.
The reports suggested that enhancing human development through improving education and health facilities.It also suggests equitable distribution of land and provision of state land to poor landless farmers. The report suggests that agriculture credit and finances should be extended to small farmers and promoting farm research results to poor farmers for efficient land use.
The report points out that food security at the national level has never been reflected in national policy discourse. There is hardly any policy document that specifically targets food in security in its complete definition, which is production, access and absorption. The thrust of policymakers and government so far has been on ensuring adequate production without realising the concept of food security goes beyond the production. It is the access and absorption that is the missing link between sufficient production and peoples well-being.
This year, the South Asia Human Development Report focused on Food Security in South Asia for Pakistan, the report terms inflation as one of the major causes of food insecurity in Pakistan. Thus food insecurity is more prevalent in urban areas as compared to rural areas. Even in rural areas those people who derive their livelihoods from non-farm sources also face food insecurity, states the report.
The report emphasises that food security is fundamental for achieving poverty reduction and human development. Food insecurity leads many vulnerable people deeper into poverty trap, making it difficult for them to recover. On poor governance, the report cites the example of 2007 wheat crisis. The government machinery from the food department, border security forces, local administration in tribal areas failed to curb smuggling of wheat across the border. Due to the lack of good governance, the local authorities also failed to stop excessive hoarding and panic buying by traders as well as consumers, which led to the alarming situation.