Silent Threats to Pakistan’s Food Security: Post-Harvest Losses and Logistics Gaps
Food security in Pakistan is often discussed in terms of production, whether wheat, rice, or sugarcane output has met annual targets. Yet the less visible threats lie not in the fields but after the harvest. Post-harvest losses, inadequate storage, and fragile logistics systems quietly erode national food supplies, pushing prices upward and worsening food insecurity for millions. This silent erosion has rarely received the policy urgency it demands.
Estimates suggest that Pakistan loses between 20 to 40 percent of its harvested produce before it reaches consumers. Perishable crops such as fruits and vegetables are particularly vulnerable, with tomatoes, mangoes, and potatoes frequently wasted due to poor handling, lack of cold storage, and transportation delays. For grains, losses occur during threshing, drying, and storage, where exposure to pests and moisture can devastate stocks. In a country where nearly 40 percent of the population already faces food insecurity, such losses are unconscionable.
The structural roots of this problem lie in the absence of modern logistics. Most farmers rely on antiquated storage facilities, mud silos or open-air barns, that expose crops to infestation and rot. Cold chain infrastructure is almost nonexistent beyond major cities, leaving rural producers with few options but to sell quickly at low prices to middlemen. Transportation compounds the issue: poorly maintained rural roads and long transit times mean that perishable goods often spoil en route to markets.
The economic implications are severe. Farmers, already struggling with rising input costs, lose income when a significant portion of their harvest becomes unsellable. Consumers face higher prices as supply diminishes, fueling inflation and deepening inequality. Nationally, Pakistan spends billions of rupees annually on food imports, even as local production perishes unused. This paradox highlights a systemic failure to translate agricultural output into food security.
Addressing post-harvest losses requires investment in both infrastructure and institutional reform. First, cold chain systems, spanning refrigerated warehouses, transport vehicles, and retail outlets, must be expanded beyond urban centers. Public-private partnerships can make such investments viable, particularly in fruit- and vegetable-producing regions like Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Second, small-scale, farmer-friendly storage technologies such as hermetic bags, solar-powered dryers, and improved silos should be introduced to minimize spoilage at the household level.
Equally important are reforms in logistics and supply chain management. Upgrading rural road networks, ensuring efficient market linkages, and digitizing agricultural trade platforms can shorten the time between farm and market. Transparent, regulated systems for handling and grading produce can further reduce waste and ensure farmers receive fair compensation.
Policy interventions must recognize post-harvest management as integral to food security. While Pakistan’s agricultural policy has historically emphasized yield maximization, it is time to shift focus toward loss minimization. The Ministry of National Food Security and provincial departments should set measurable targets for reducing post-harvest losses, integrating them into broader climate adaptation and food resilience strategies.
The human dimension cannot be ignored. Every kilogram of grain lost to pests, every crate of fruit spoiled in transit, represents not only wasted economic value but also a missed opportunity to nourish a child, sustain a family, or stabilize a community. By tackling post-harvest losses and logistics gaps, Pakistan can make significant strides toward ensuring that food produced in its fields reaches the plates of its people. Food security is not merely about growing enough; it is about saving enough.
