Shahidur Rashid GLOBAL FOOD POLICY REPORT IFPRI South Asia Discussion of the 2020 Global Food Policy Report Co-Organized by IFPRI, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) JUL 6, 2020 - 04:30 PM TO 06:00 PM +06

1. Building Inclusive Food
System in South Asia
Shahidur Rashid
Director, South Asia
July 6, 2020

2. Framework for food system thinking
TRADITIONAL
• Policy focus on food
and supply and cereal
production
• High share of agriculture
in GDP (>25%) and
employment
• Limited industry
(packaging, processing)
• Most calories from
cereals (>75%)
TRANSITIONING
• Policy focus expands to consider
micronutrient intake, dietary
diversity, and agricultural
transformation
• Decreasing share of agriculture
in GDP (10–25%) and
employment
• Increasing rates of urbanization
• Increasing lengths of food supply
chains and increasing food
safety burden
• Sustainability issues more
complex, with greater options for
specialization and market-based
solutions
• Industry (packaging, processing)
begins to grow
MODERNIZING
• Policy focus on food system
transitions, food quality and
safety (although food safety
burden falls)
• Low share of agriculture in GDP
(<10%) and employment
• High rates of urbanization
• Complex sustainability synergies
and trade-offs, benefit from
systemic approach to food
systems decision-making
• Industry plays large role
• More trade, with greater share of
food imported and exported
• Food supply chains are more
integrated and complex
• Lower share of calories from
cereals (<65%)
• More food is eaten away from
home (snacks, restaurants, etc.)
• Moderate levels of stunting, still
declining (<30%)

3. Why Inclusive Food System in South Asia?
0 10 20 30 40
Nepal
Pakistan
Afghanistan
Bhutan
India
Bangladesh
Sri Lanka
Maldives
South Asia
Share of ag in GDP, South Asia
2018 2008
45.656.4
Farm and Non-Farm Employment in South
Asia, 2018
Farm Non-Farm
1. South Asian economies are
transforming
o Share of agriculture in GDP has been
declining (at 15% in 2018)
o Real wages have been rising & rural and
urban wages are converging
o Non-farm employments have exceeded
farm employment in all countries.

4. 2. Food system is transforming too.
• Per capita cereal consumption is declining for
both poor and rich
• Processing & packaging growing
• Consumption away from home increasing
• There are other indicators as well
44.6
31.6
42.0
32.4
28.5
25.5 25.0
22.0
19.9
25.8
22.3
20.8
16.1
13.2 12.6 11.65
14.2
12.7
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
2010 2016 2005 2012 2006 2012 2016 2013 2016
Bangladesh India Pakistan Sri Lanka
%
Consumption pattern of cereals in
poorest 20% and richest 20% (% of
food-expenditure)
Poorest 20% Richest 20%
Question: Can countries leave evolution of “Food System
in S Asia” to market forces?
Why Inclusive Food System in South Asia (2)?

5. 1. The focus of ag & food policy in the region has been on
increasing production and achieving self-sufficiency in
cereals (rice and wheat).
• adopt an approach that accounts for dietary balance,
environmental sustainability, and inclusivity.
2. Food system in the region is transforming faster than the
institutions could catch up. Food safety institutions
became priority only recently
• Bangladesh Food Safety Act was passed in 2013; and food safety
authority established in 2015
• Pakistan enacted National Food Safety, Animal, and Plant Health
Regulatory Act in 2017
• In India, Food Safety and Standard Act was passed in 2006 and
became effective in 2011
Policies for an Inclusive Food System

6. 1. Production systems
o Input subsidy policies
o Agricultural price policies
2. Social protection programs.
o Rice & wheat to poor → feeding the poor with safe,
healthy, and nutritious food.
o Fortification / biofortifications are viable options
3. Institutions and investments
o Integrate “Food System Approach” to national
agricultural (and food) research systems
o Invest in the infrastructure & human capital for effective
food safety institutions
o Invest to create right incentives for food industry
development
Policies for an Inclusive Food System (2)

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