Zero hunger: A dream or reality?

he future of the planet’s food resources does not seem very rosy. The situation is becoming worse every single day. The world’s population is on an increase. According to recent World Bank reports, over 795 million people go hungry every single day. These people have no access to food. The current world population figures have reached the mark of 7+ billion, which is very alarming. The problem of food scarcity is too big, too widespread. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under the United Nations banner is not doing enough to reach food to suffering countries. Asian countries like Pakistan are doing little about birth control. Current census figures of Pakistan (Census 2017) shows that Pakistan’s birth rate is increasing at the alarming rate of 2.4+ per cent. Pakistan’s population has reached 207.7 million. Around 54 per cent of people in Pakistan are food insecure.

Unfortunately, world hunger never ever remained at the top of UN agendas for G20, G8, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) or other such meetings. All member countries of the UN have recognised the extent of the problem at an international level but that is not enough. Cities of the world are becoming overcrowded every single day and migration has taken a toll on the world. The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals will suffer due to the increase in population and food scarcity. A zero-hunger target is almost impossible to achieve because of the surge in world population, environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources. The world is now arriving at an alarming situation. United Nations and other forums must form a joint strategy to address issues of food scarcity and burgeoning population.

The reader is a freelance writer based in Pakistan.