Policy Options to Achieve Food Security in South Asia

Agriculture in South Asia and many other parts of the world is apparently caught in a low equilibrium trap. The features of this trap are low productivity of staples, supply shortfalls, higher prices, low returns to farmers, product diversification, causing further shortage of staple food. The question of food security has a number of dimensions that go beyond production, availability and demand for food. Food availability does not ensure food security. Thus, distribution and access of population to food is equally important for food security. Food availability can be achieved through better distribution mechanisms and alternatively through imports to ensure food security