Food security policy assessment in the Punjab, Pakistan: effectiveness, distortions and their perceptions

Bashir Muhammad and Steven Schilizzi

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, 2015, vol. 7, issue 5, 1089 pages

Abstract: This study aims to assess the impact of short-term policies on smallholder farmers’ household food security. It answers three key questions: What is the impact of selected policies on farmers’ household food security? What would have been the impact of these policies if implemented perfectly? Are the perceived impacts of food security policies in line with their estimated impacts? For this purpose, a conceptual model is proposed using a partial equilibrium model approach. The model identifies policy impact pathways. Two demand side policies (food subsidy and minimum wage rate) and two supply side policies (wheat support price and urea subsidy) are assessed. Results show that one of each improves farmers’ household food security. Furthermore, these policies are poorly implemented and consequently their potential benefits are much reduced. The comparison of farmers’ perceptions and their estimated monetary gains shows notable divergence. This study suggests that more research is warranted into the potential of food security policies, as much of their effectiveness is lost due to poor implementation. It also suggests that, for the Punjab, policies emphasising wheat support prices better address food insecurity than urea subsidies. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht and International Society for Plant Pathology 2015

Keywords: Impact assessment; Disaggregated policy assessment; Rural food security; Perceived impacts; Policy implementation; Punjab; Pakistan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1007/s12571-015-0489-y

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