Gilgit Baltistan (GB) is famous for its unmatchable natural beauty but this area is facing many socio-economic, cultural and environmental issues. Due to less cultivatable land these regions are facing food insecurity.
The total area of Gilgit Baltistan is 72971 sq km but a huge part of it is covered by mountains and glaciers, which comes to about 66% of the total area of GB. The total cultivatable land is only 2% and only 50% of this is under cultivation. The lack of cultivable land is major reason for food insecurity for the region. Beside this, there are other reasons which lead to food insecurity of the region.
Rapid increase in population and urbanisation are also two of the prime factors for food insecurity in GB. According to the 2017 census, the population of GB reached 1.6 million. The annual population increase between 1998 to 2017 was 3.17%.
This increase in population in particular has intensified this problem due to lack of proper urban/ rural development planning in Gilgit Baltistan as rapid horizontal construction of homes has left less agricultural land.
The second problem with rapid increase in urbanisation is the increasing demand of foods. Unfortunately, agricultural productivity is not increasing as quickly as the increase in population.
Linked to this agricultural productivity are the destructive impacts of global climate changes. The changes in climate pattern contributing to the increasing glacier melting rate has become prominent problem for the region resulting in GLOF formation and flooding in the region which leads to decrease in cultivable land.
Over the last few years, the tourism sector flourished in Gilgit Baltistan, with a massive flow of people into GB, which amplified food insecurity, as the demand for food increased without increase in supply of resources.
In the past most of people cultivated their land for harvesting crops such as wheat and vegetables, but what was once fertile land has turned into unfertile land. There is also too much dependence on urban markets for foods as a reason for increasing food insecurity problem in the region. Some people blame availability of subsidised wheat which has encouraged people to leave their land as uncultivable.
Poor management and out dated techniques use in agriculture practices has also brought about a decrease in productivity level and lower yield production. In GB, agricultural products like wheat, maize, vegetables like potato and tomato and fruits like apricots, cherry, apples and grapes are produced at very large scale but mismanagement and old techniques which means there is a lack of preservation and longevity of such products which means they cannot be used for long periods and cannot be transported to domestic markets.
In the future as the climate continues to change, the unavailability of subsidised wheat, and the increase of tourist influx, there is a worry that the food insecurity problem will increase further.
In order to deal with this possible outcome, there is a need for a general public awareness campaign in which knowledge and information about food security and the dangers of a food shortage should be circulated in the society as a means of encouraging people to change their habits and attitude towards sustainable use of agricultural products and also start cultivating their land.
For correction in crop pattern and increase yield level, the government of GB needs to collaborate with leading research institutions to introduce latest innovation in agricultural sector of Gilgit Baltistan so that lower yield and half-lives of agricultural products easily enhance. Along with this training labor session, there is also the need to start to deal with problem of mismanagement.
Different NGOs like Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have been working in GB’s agricultural sector for last few decades. A proper impact elevation of their initiatives should be carried out. In 2016 the GB government and IFAD launched $120 million to irrigate around 50,000 acres of barren land in the mountainous. As huge amount of funds was allocated, it is time that an external evaluator team evaluate the impacts.
Aqua culture is considered as a tool for dealing with food insecurity. GB has huge potential for aqua culture due to presence of cold water reservoirs. According to the provincial fisheries department, annual production of fish is 465 tons. The GB government has started many initiatives for trout fish breeding and private fish farming also started. Besides this, the government needs to arrange training and awareness sessions for fish farming among general masses.
As the goal two for sustainable development 2030 is zero hunger, the government really needs to focus dealing with rapid urbanisation, climate changes, sustainable tourism, innovation and adoptions of modern agricultural practices so that food insecurity problem reduce and achieve second goal of SDGs (zero hunger).
The total area of Gilgit Baltistan is 72971 sq km but a huge part of it is covered by mountains and glaciers, which comes to about 66% of the total area of GB. The total cultivatable land is only 2% and only 50% of this is under cultivation. The lack of cultivable land is major reason for food insecurity for the region. Beside this, there are other reasons which lead to food insecurity of the region.
Rapid increase in population and urbanisation are also two of the prime factors for food insecurity in GB. According to the 2017 census, the population of GB reached 1.6 million. The annual population increase between 1998 to 2017 was 3.17%.
This increase in population in particular has intensified this problem due to lack of proper urban/ rural development planning in Gilgit Baltistan as rapid horizontal construction of homes has left less agricultural land.
The second problem with rapid increase in urbanisation is the increasing demand of foods. Unfortunately, agricultural productivity is not increasing as quickly as the increase in population.
Linked to this agricultural productivity are the destructive impacts of global climate changes. The changes in climate pattern contributing to the increasing glacier melting rate has become prominent problem for the region resulting in GLOF formation and flooding in the region which leads to decrease in cultivable land.
Over the last few years, the tourism sector flourished in Gilgit Baltistan, with a massive flow of people into GB, which amplified food insecurity, as the demand for food increased without increase in supply of resources.
In the past most of people cultivated their land for harvesting crops such as wheat and vegetables, but what was once fertile land has turned into unfertile land. There is also too much dependence on urban markets for foods as a reason for increasing food insecurity problem in the region. Some people blame availability of subsidised wheat which has encouraged people to leave their land as uncultivable.
Poor management and out dated techniques use in agriculture practices has also brought about a decrease in productivity level and lower yield production. In GB, agricultural products like wheat, maize, vegetables like potato and tomato and fruits like apricots, cherry, apples and grapes are produced at very large scale but mismanagement and old techniques which means there is a lack of preservation and longevity of such products which means they cannot be used for long periods and cannot be transported to domestic markets.
In the future as the climate continues to change, the unavailability of subsidised wheat, and the increase of tourist influx, there is a worry that the food insecurity problem will increase further.
In order to deal with this possible outcome, there is a need for a general public awareness campaign in which knowledge and information about food security and the dangers of a food shortage should be circulated in the society as a means of encouraging people to change their habits and attitude towards sustainable use of agricultural products and also start cultivating their land.
For correction in crop pattern and increase yield level, the government of GB needs to collaborate with leading research institutions to introduce latest innovation in agricultural sector of Gilgit Baltistan so that lower yield and half-lives of agricultural products easily enhance. Along with this training labor session, there is also the need to start to deal with problem of mismanagement.
Different NGOs like Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have been working in GB’s agricultural sector for last few decades. A proper impact elevation of their initiatives should be carried out. In 2016 the GB government and IFAD launched $120 million to irrigate around 50,000 acres of barren land in the mountainous. As huge amount of funds was allocated, it is time that an external evaluator team evaluate the impacts.
Aqua culture is considered as a tool for dealing with food insecurity. GB has huge potential for aqua culture due to presence of cold water reservoirs. According to the provincial fisheries department, annual production of fish is 465 tons. The GB government has started many initiatives for trout fish breeding and private fish farming also started. Besides this, the government needs to arrange training and awareness sessions for fish farming among general masses.
As the goal two for sustainable development 2030 is zero hunger, the government really needs to focus dealing with rapid urbanisation, climate changes, sustainable tourism, innovation and adoptions of modern agricultural practices so that food insecurity problem reduce and achieve second goal of SDGs (zero hunger).