By Muhammad Rashid Tabassum :
Pakistan is an agricultural country blessed with fertile land, hardworking farmers and considerable agricultural resources. Yet millions of families struggle to afford adequate and nutritious food. Rising poverty, inflation, agricultural difficulties and unequal access to food have turned this into a serious national concern. The problem highlights a basic reality: producing enough food does not guarantee food security if people cannot afford to buy it.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report issued in February 2026, around 7.5 million people, or 21 per cent of the population in the rural areas assessed in Pakistan, faced acute food insecurity between December 2025 and March 2026. Floods, climate change, declining agricultural incomes and economic pressures have worsened the situation, threatening both livelihoods and household food supplies.
Poverty and inflation have made access to food increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens. According to the World Bank figures cited for October 2026, Pakistan accounts for 48 per cent of the extremely poor population in the relevant regional grouping. The national poverty rate, measured against the national poverty line, stood at 22.2 per cent in fiscal year 2025. Meanwhile, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data show that annual food inflation reached 8.20 per cent in September 2026, while year-on-year inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator stood at 11.97 per cent for the week ending October 10.
When food prices rise, low-income households are often forced to cut back on nutritious items such as meat, milk, eggs and fruit. This can have serious consequences for children's health and development. The National Nutrition Survey 2018 found that 40.2 per cent of children under five were stunted, while 17.7 per cent were wasted. Although these figures do not reflect current conditions, they reveal the longstanding scale of malnutrition in Pakistan.
Agricultural problems further complicate the country's food security challenge. Rising prices of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, diesel and electricity increase farmers' production costs. At the same time, inadequate returns for their crops reduce their earnings and discourage investment in future production. The result is an unfair arrangement in which farmers may receive low prices for their produce while consumers pay more in retail markets.
Weak supply chains, hoarding and a lack of transparency in agricultural markets also contribute to price instability. Poor storage facilities and inadequate transportation lead to significant post-harvest losses. Investment in modern warehouses, cold-chain facilities and efficient distribution systems could help preserve crops, reduce waste and improve the availability of affordable food. Transparent market practices are equally important to ensure that farmers receive fair returns and consumers are not burdened by unjustified price increases.
Addressing food insecurity requires more than short-term relief. Government social protection programmes, including the Benazir Income Support Programme, provide an important safety net for vulnerable families. However, these efforts must be supported by long-term agricultural reforms. Farmers need affordable, quality inputs, better access to credit, modern irrigation methods and crop varieties suited to changing climatic conditions.
Technology can also contribute to a more resilient agricultural system. Artificial intelligence and digital tools can help farmers monitor crops, anticipate weather conditions and use water more efficiently. However, such facilities must be accessible to small farmers rather than remaining limited to large agricultural enterprises. Nutrition programmes targeting children, pregnant women and low-income households must also be strengthened to address the health consequences of food insecurity.
Ultimately, Pakistan must treat food security as a national priority that links agriculture with economic policy, healthcare and social welfare. Better planning, transparent markets, improved farm incomes and greater purchasing power for poor households are essential to reducing hunger and malnutrition.
Pakistan has the agricultural potential to feed its people, but that potential must translate into affordable, nutritious food for every household. The real measure of success is not simply how much the country produces, but whether its people can put healthy food on their tables.
