PANIC MIGHT CREATE FOOD CRISIS IN THE COUNTRY.

Byline: MOHAMMAD IQBAL

To contain the spread of COVID-19, countries around the globe have enforced lockdowns. It has resulted in closure of most of the industries and created havoc on the global economy. It is very human nature that we try our best that we have enough food supplies. We rush to supermarkets to buy as much food supply as possible. This has put the food market industry under tremendous pressure. COVID-19 is not only harming global food security, but it could lead to severe consequences. One possible implication beyond food insecurity is the rise in violence and conA!ict. Analysts are predicting Africa and Asia as more vulnerable.

As of now, the global markets for basic cereals are well supplied, and prices are not skyrocketing. As compared to the 2006-2007 global food crisis, the situation is very di erent this time. Food scarcity is not a dilemma, but the problem is the movement of the food from world food basket markets to where they are needed. The pandemic is disturbing the food market equilibrium by disrupting the supply chain. It is a ecting both the supply side and the demand side.

Transportations restrictions, shortage of labor, and farmers' limited access to the market are shifting paradigms in agricultural production. The food supply chain mainly consists of two food groups; cereal group (wheat, rice, soybeans, corn, etc.) and fresh produce group (vegetables and fruits). In developed countries, the cereal group is heavily mechanized; hence would not be a ected by the shortage of labor. But for vegetable and fruits, all depends upon labor force. Around 70% of Pakistan's small farmersrely on traditional farm laborers, who come from the remote or the low-income areas before the harvesting season.

They could not make it this time due to weekslong lockdown. But in the absence of labor and means of transportation due to lockdown to stem the spread of COVID19 or coronavirus, millions of farmers are staring at another disaster, watching their produce rotting in their fields. The economists have cautioned the government that if COVID-19 pandemic prolonged then it would impact perishable food items first and then the staple food. For an uninterrupted food supply, they recommended to the government that it must maintain the provision of inputs to farmers, mobility of labour in the agriculture sector, and shipment of food from farm to markets and market to retailers..

During current circumstances, Pakistan could face food...