Muhith for stepped-up efforts to boost food security in South Asia

FE Report Finance Minister AMA Muhith Saturday said food security has emerged as a major concern for South Asia as population in the region continues to grow and the countries lag behind in producing enough staple. Mr Muhith said the soaring prices of food and fuel have also exerted further pressure on the governments' limited resources, as the majority of the South Asian nations are facing tough time to battle double-digit inflation. He said: "Two years back, we thought that we've done enough for food production, so on and so forth, but we have found that we're really lagging behind to meet the growing demand." "Despite everything, population (in South Asia) will continue to grow at least in the next 30 years. So, we should cater for more food and it is something where we should pay continuous attention," he said. He said the governments in the region should step up efforts on ensuring food security and a combined public sector intervention is needed to meet a raft of new Continued to page 7 col. 1