Food Security Efforts in SAARC Countries

Dr. Hanumant Yadav,

Professor (Economics),
Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (CG)
ABSTRACT
South Asia with 1616.5 million population houses worlds 40 percent poor population and
35 percent of worlds undernourished. Therefore the food security is very crucial to South Asian
countries. Realizing food security as a challenge, all countries of South Asia has made efforts
achieve food security through increasing food production, initiating PDS, making PDS
vulnerable by supplying at subsidized rates, linking food with rural employment programs,
nutritious food to undernourished children, etc. The present paper traces food security of
SAARC countries at country and also at regional level.
The FAO identified the four pillars of food security as availability, access, utilization,
and stabilitiy

The paper discusses the issue of food security under these heads. . Among
SAARC countries, India has remained very particular ensuring food security with all its pillars
availability to its people since the launching of its First FYP in 1951. Its initiative ranges from
increasing food production to legal initiatives. ICDS and Mid-day Meals Scheme have ensured food
utilization. Right to Food Act 2013 ensures food availability, excess, utilization and food stability to
Indian people. India is also extending its expertise and food availability help to other SAARC
countries also.

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Shri Lanka while increasing food production
also tried to strengthen PDS system making food accessible to poor people. Sri Lanka has also
introduced food utilization schemes for children. The food production efforts of Afghanistan are
hampered due to internal disturbances however food availability is ensured by import of wheat
flour from neighbor countries. SAARC organization has established SAFTA, SAARC Food
Bank, and Seed Bank. The food security appears to be satisfactory at SAARC level however
not a single SAARC country appears in first 50 rank of Global Food Security Index.
Since SAARC Food Bank is a good solution to short term shortages and to meet
emergency needs hence to ensure food security a long-term strategy is required to raise food
production, strengthen PDS and food utilization schemes for children and needy mothers.
Secondly, infrastructure facilities namely irrigation, storage and speedy transport should be
developed as long term strategy. Thirdly, since tariff and non-tariff barriers are impeding
agriculture trade, they should be dismantled as a measure to strengthen food security at regional
level.