South Asia Forum seeks action on Food Bank

Chaminda Perera

The South Asia Forum comprising academia, researchers, policy makers and civil society representatives in the South Asian region yesterday called for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to immediately operationalise the Food Bank already set up by the Association with an initial stock of two million tons of grains to ensure food security.

The Forum's Steering Committee in a report after two day consultations with the their representatives in Kandy yesterday said the SAARC should have a regional seed bank with outlets in strategic locations for farmers.

Chair of the Steering Committee Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzam Ahamad said these seeds banks will store and supply seeds of major crops produced in the regional countries and of new crops developed through research activities.

This forum hosted by the Universities of Peradeniya and Colombo explored policy options and alternatives to realise social and economic rights and regional cooperation in the region and seek a collective framework to achieve this objective.

The Forum among other proposals calls for SAARC leaders to develop their cooperation to the optimum level to have visa free regime in the region.

We should have a common Parliament and Human Rights Charter in our effort to effectively face the challenges by other regions, Dr. Ahamed said.

One third of people in the region equalling over 500 million face food insecurity and if there is no tangible programme this number would go up to 588 million by 2009. These people have to buy cooking oil, rice and firewood from the market.

Dr. Ahamad said they expect to educate the SAARC ambassadors on their proposals and persuade the respective countries to take up these issues for discussion and come to consensus which would benefit all communities in the region.

It the national governments or SAARC do not give an ear to these proposals, we would create a regional public opinion through which the respective governments can be persuaded, he said.

The academic community through the regional university network could reach a wide section of people and educate them on our new initiatives aimed at forging closer and wider coordination and cooperation among the South Asian countries, he said.

The experts in their proposals to the SAARC leaders have addressed key issues such as economic management, natural resources management and sustainable environment, human rights and security and social justice.

The forum has also called upon SAARC leaders to establish a South Asian Development Bank particularly to fund people's development and infrastructure projects in different countries and set up integrated multi-mode connectivity across South Asia.

A Regional Energy Grid for effective cooperation towards ensuring energy security in all countries and a South Asian climate change fund were also mooted.