SAARC Food Bank (SFB) Institutional Architecture and Issues of Operationalisation

In view of the need for an appropriate institutional architecture to address the food security concerns in South Asia, issues of proper operationalisation of the SAARC Food Bank (SFB) have assumed critical importance in the current context. This paper examines the various provisions that guide the functioning of the SFB, and identifies the underlying reasons why this regional arrangement has failed to deliver the expected results. The paper comes up with concrete recommendations to raise the efficacy of the SFB in order for it to service its mandate. These include a proposed formula for critical thresholds that define food emergency situation, modalities for distribution of food from the SFB, maintenance of the foodstock and ensuring quality of the reserves, derestriction of trade in foodgrains, putting in place a dispute settlement mechanism, and options for institutional tie-ups.