"Food Insecurity of Rice in Pakistan" A study conducted in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Purpose: The study of Food Insecurity in Pakistan was to evaluate the impact on rice. In Pakistan the rice stands for a situation where at one side there is rice available but on the other side the people don’t have enough or any access to rice at all. This means that the food is out there insecure as the people who have the right to reach and utilize rice for their healthy nourishment are not given the opportunity nor access to food to do so. It has been a known fact that Pakistan is an agricultural country but yet at the same time it is the same country which has been facing issues when it comes to availability, accessibility and utilization of rice. Methodology: The study will focus on qualitative research as this research phenomenon is comparatively new in Pakistan. Such study is rare so it is difficult to collect the data regarding the progress of Food Insecurity in Pakistan on rice. It will help us in establishing an in depth understanding of insecurity of food in Pakistan on rice. This study will help in finding out the prospects of problems and solutions how can minimize the risk in Pakistan and we would be able to establish what the current situation of industry. The data has been collected through a questionnaire and interviews were conducted from the representatives/employees of different organizations in local market. The respondents were from Governments i.e. Trade Corporation of Pakistan(TCP), Rice Export Corporation of Pakistan (RECP), Quality Review Committee (QRC), Traders, Millers, Exporters and they were 25 representative. Interviews were conducted and due to limitation, some interviews were conducted on telephonic manner and through Skype. Findings: This research is to know where we are standing at national and international markets. One of the biggest findings of this research was the gaps between realities and polices. Other findings issues are export, quality, technology, and Mode of transportation. The regulation authorities are not working properly and they are not maintaining the standard of export quality to meet international standard. Practical Implications: The implementation from research will help government authorities, policies makers, market committees, traders, brokers, and exporters to understand the overall dynamics and mechanism of rice sector in Pakistan.