Reeling under the dual whammy of financial melt down and unprecedented food crisis, close to 88 million people in South Asia are staring at a food crisis, says 'Imagine a New South Asia' (INSA).In a statement on Tuesday, the consortium of global and regional civil society organisations warned if the spiraling food crisis is not addressed the number of people going without food could climb to 588 million by next year.The stark reminder was issued ahead of the SAARC Agriculture Ministers conference in New Delhi starting tomorrow. “It is high time that the South Asian nations brought agriculture back to the centre of their national policy focus,” asserts Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri member INSA steering committee from Pakistan.The clear call for action highlighted by the group includes operationalising the idea of regional food bank and push for long-term support for boosting food production in the region.“Increasing state investment for the region’s agriculture sector and stopping diversion of land from food production to commercial ventures are critical for protecting poor and marginalized people in South Asia,” says Umi Daniel leads ActionAid’s work on food and livelihood in India. ActionAid is a part of the regional initiative, INSA The joint call simultaneously across the region also suggested action points also asked for: •De-listing farm produces from the restricted list under the Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area to promote regional agricultural trade.•Remove Para-tariff and non-tariff barriers to agriculture trade. •Setting up regional and national seed banks accessible to small and marginal farmers.•Upgrade the South Asian Agricultural Information Centre (SAIC) for sharing of innovations in agricultural technologies and collaborative research.
