ISLAMABAD: An Oxfam Penny Lawrence (OPL) delegation, led by its Deputy Chief Executive, has called on National Food Security and Research Minister Sikander Hayat Khan Bosan and discussed matters pertaining to sustainable livelihood, food security and sanitation.
The minister said that an approach with focus on education, health and social welfare is vital for hunger eradication and to ensure food security. He apprised the Oxfam delegates that inspired from the Brazilian model, Pakistan has launched a Zero Hunger and Family Farming programme.
The programme aims to reach out to 61 million people. Salient features of this initiative include stimulus programme to expand farm output and market access, targeted and conditional social safety nets and food transfers to food insecure households. The minister said that multiple initiatives have been taken to break the cycle of rural poverty and hunger.
Collaborative measures to ensure food security, mechanisms for financial assistance during droughts and natural calamities, value addition, agricultural marketing and capacity building came under discussion.
The OPL deputy chief executive praised the commitment of the government towards agriculture and welcomed the joint ventures to eradicate hunger and malnutrition.
