Agriculture and Nutrition in Pakistan: Pathways and Disconnects

Abstract

Results of the latest nationwide nutrition survey show that the ‘South Asian paradox’ of persistently high rates of undernutrition despite respectable rates of economic growth appears to hold true for Pakistan. Although nutrition has largely been framed as a health issue in Pakistan, it is an outcome of complex processes. Amongst various economic sectors, agriculture – a sector that employs 45 per cent of the workforce in Pakistan – might have direct implications for nutrition outcomes through drivers such as the availability and diversity of food and income distribution. Using evidence from Pakistan, this article reviews trends and policymaking in agriculture and applies a framework for analysing pathways between agriculture and nutrition. It then goes on to highlight potential disconnects in the agriculture?nutrition linkage and identifies areas for future research.