ABSTRACT
The widening magnitude of food deprivation in South Asia finds its origins in a mix of interlinked factors including failure of native food production systems, stock management and distribution policies, insufficient food trade liberalisation and agricultural support measures, and ineffective targeting of national food security programmes, along with failure in containing food wastage. To bring down the prevalence of undernourishment at a faster rate, greater regional policy coordination is required, given the transboundary implications of food production systems. Regional cooperation can improve agricultural productivity and foster knowledge sharing for efficiency in implementation of safety nets. Reforms should be aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and must aim for structural transformation in agriculture.
