Experts urge effectiveness of SAARC Food Bank for South Asia's food security

The SAARC Food Bank should be made effective as a regional approach to responding to crises related to food security in South Asia.

Apart from the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), another regional entity, BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), could also take initiatives by introducing a virtual bank involving its Bay of Bengal partner nations.

The observation came on the concluding day of "the IFPRI Global Food Policy Report 2023 South Asia Launch: Rethinking Food Crisis Responses" held at a hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal, organised by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

The concluding session of the two-day-long panel discussion ended on Tuesday, chaired by Dr Pramad K Joshi, president, Agricultural Economics Research Association, India.

Mr Joshi, while summarising the outcomes of the two-day-long discussion, said the globe, as well as South Asia, is now going through a triple crisis including climate change, the war in Europe, and the pandemic-induced consequences.

Countries in South Asia are experiencing higher inflation, while a few countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka are even witnessing stagflation.

A severe crisis is looming large over the globe as well as in South Asia, and to prevent the disaster, a global food bank and a regional food bank should be introduced.

He said the SAARC Food Bank was established as a response to food-related crises, but the entity is not working.

"It might be that the reason behind the inactivity of the SAARC Food Bank is related to political or economic issues, but we have to sort it out for the betterment of the South Asian people", he said.

He said the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Mutual BIMSTEC should also open a virtual bank involving all the member states to make an effective platform.

He also emphasised the need to form a global food security forum and a global food crisis fund.

Asked, Dr Johan Swinnen, director general, IFPRI, said safe food or the quality of food should also be ensured through modern value chain management.

Dr Shahidur Rashid, head of IFPRI South Asia, pointed out that BIMSTEC could work more efficiently than SAARC, taking into account the geopolitical perspective.

Meanwhile, speakers on the concluding day also emphasised the need for an information platform in the region.

They also made observations for strengthening the existing value chain by bringing infrastructural development in terms of regulation before and after any disaster.

Dr Mamata Pradhan, research coordinator, IFPRI, delivered the vote of thanks, while Jamal Uddin Ahmed, director, SAARC (agriculture, rural development and SAARC development fund), Jason Seuc, director, economic growth office, USAID, Nepal, also spoke, among others.

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