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to raise the strategic reserve to 4 million tons. Sadly, the whole concept of
SAARC Food Bank is yet to become materialize. There is a need to address
the issue of price incen� ve and access threshold to enable the release of
grains from the reserve. The donors that are running projects on enhancing
regional integra� on should look into this aspect as well.
Fi� h, and most importantly, it is high � me poli� cal leaders, and
offi cials at Na� onal Planning Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of
Agriculture & Coopera� ves, and Ministry of Commerce & Supplies woke up
and acknowledged the fact that rising food prices and a poten� al food crisis
pose a real economic threat and could engender poli� cal instability. They
have to plan and work in tandem to eschew intensifi ca� on of food crisis and
its spillover on the economy and poli� cal fronts. Furthermore, donors and
government have to look at short term and long term op� ons to tackle food
insecurity. The short term measures include providing immediate assistance,
targeted subsidies, and implemen� ng safety net programs. The long term
measures include programs to increase produc� on, produc� vity, availability
and accessibility.
References:
ADB. (2011). Global Food Price Infl a� on and Developing Asia. Mandaluyong City,
Philippines: Asian Development Bank.
BBC News. (2011, February 15). Food Prices at Dangerous Levels, says World Bank.
BBC News Business. h� p://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12474021.
Ivanic, M., W. Mar� n, and H. Zaman. (2011). Es� ma� ng the Short-run Poverty
Impacts of the 2010-2011 Surge in Food Prices. World Bank Policy Research
Working Paper 5633, Washington, DC, World Bank.
Khanal, P. (2011, August 6). Astonishing Decline in Absolute Poverty to 13 pc.
Republica, p. 1.
HLPE. (2011). Price Vola� lity and Food Security: A report by the High Level Panel
of Experts on Food Security and Nutri� on of the Commi� ee on World Food
Security. July 2011 Rome: Food and Agriculture Organiza� on.
Sapkota, C. (2011a). Food Insecurity: Can Trade Address It? Trade Insight , 7 (1), pp.
20-24.
Sapkota, C. (2011b, February 22). Food Security in Nepal. Republica , p. 7.
TKP. (2011, June 16). Nepal to have food surplus this fi scal. The Kathmandu Post , p.
Money A.
Changing paradigms of aid eff ec� veness in Nepal 165