National security is linked to food/nutrition security: Bosan

LAHORE, Nov 5 (APP): Federal Minister for National Food
Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan on Thursday
emphatically called for research based agriculture as well as
adoption of modern technologies to boost production.
Addressing a ceremony held here at Forman’s Christian
College, the Minister said that food security was vitally linked
to increased agricultural productivity, affordability
for people and accessibility to all.
Bosan said the country was going through internal and external
threats of tremendous magnitude. However, national security cannot
be achieved without providing food security which in turn
is impossible without nutritional security, he explained.
“Government gives high priority to corporate agriculture
and despite the limitations, government considers small
farmers backbone of the rural economy”, he added.
He said that government was taking all-out steps to boost
national economy, agricultural progress, development of livestock,
self sufficiency in oilseeds and enhanced efforts in the areas of
fisheries and horticulture.
Bosan said that centuries old agri practices needed to be
transformed with the use of modern tehcnology, but admitted that
it was a huge challenge. “It may be easy to discuss in a class room
or a seminar but difficult to translate into action. There is a great
need of extra ordinary efforts by extra ordinary men & women to
adopt research based agricultural in the country”, he reiterated.
Bosan said that improving the role of private sector
through incentives and creation of enabling environment
was one of the major benchmarks of the government.
The Minister said they were shaping out a regulatory
reform process which makes government’s role a “facilitator”.
Rector FC College, James A Tebbe was also present on the
occasion.