Page 49 - CMA Journal (Mar-Apr 2026)

rendering normal household's incapable of meeting their
daily needs. This clearly illustrates that food security is more
than just a matter of economics, rather it is deeply connected
to international politics and energy security as well.

Climate and Geopolitics

Climate change is signi cant, and it is not necessarily the
dramatic shifts that people often discuss. It is the slow and
continuous change over long periods of time that can have
the most signi cant impacts.

As an instance, consider what is happening in Pakistan. The
ongoing environmental stresses have long term effects on
agriculture, which combined with the fact that food systems
can no longer guarantee a consistent supply of food at a
stable price, can create massive problems such as food
shortages and rising prices, which affect some communities
particularly heavily.

In turn, all these factors accumulate to increase the prices of
everyday food for the average household. Ordinary foods
such as rice, wheat, and cooking oil have all risen beyond
what many families can afford. While these items are still Building Resilience
available in markets, people simply cannot afford them, and
To improve food security, we need to develop more robust
this results in hunger among the common man. The effects
and adaptable supply chains. For a country such as Pakistan,
of nancial instability can sometimes be quite startling. For
this can be tackled by encouraging domestic production,
example, if we take into account what is occurring in
investing in food systems, and improving storage and
Pakistan.
transportation networks, particularly in rural areas, thus
enabling food access for all, even in adverse conditions.
It is really frightening that we are going to get groups of
global shocks. Take what has just been going on in Pakistan If support is provided to small farmers of Pakistan, it would
where there were nancial problems and natural disaster. go a long way. A large number of farmers lack resources,
Pakistan had devastating oods in 2022 which destroyed equipment, and access to markets for their produce. Aid in
crops and farmland, as well as rising food prices making it the form of tools and funding can enable them to increase
production, help the nation meet its food requirements
extremely difficult for people to buy food in the rst place. It
domestically, and reduce dependence on external sources.
is serious when people are not even able to afford to eat as
Hence, support to small farmers will bene t both farmers
that problem can lead to many more. Many countries are
directly and Pakistan in general. The techniques for
struggling in similar ways, and we are going to have to work
improving current methods can work through new
on helping them recover.
agricultural technologies and appropriate tools. For
The way in which food is produced, traded, and consumed example, in areas where there is lack of water or ooding, it
would be a good remedy to implement smart irrigation and
globally is deeply intertwined. It is now the case that most
cultivate climate resilient crops. However, these solutions
countries around the world rely on food imports to feed their
must be viable for local farmers to be effective.
citizens, and thus a vast system of food production and trade
has emerged. Although globalization has facilitated access The government needs to formulate schemes for managing
disasters and economic shocks and provide relief measures
to a variety of food products worldwide, it has also rendered
for low-income families whenever prices are in ated. The
the system more vulnerable than it may otherwise be. Where
Benazir Income Support Programme has proved its
any kind of crisis arises, whether war, trade restrictions, or
importance in Pakistan for assisting needy families. Such
natural disaster in one part of the world, this is likely to have
programs are certainly helpful in combating food security
immediate repercussions for food prices and availability in
issues, but to meet ever increasing needs it is imperative to
others, as shown in the case of recent fertilizer shortages extend their scope by ensuring support reaches every needy
which have impacted farmers globally. person.
47 ICMA’s Chartered Management Accountant, Mar-Apr 2026