1. SAARC Seed Bank and Food Bank Yet to be enough to meet food insecurity of mass people www.equitybd.org

2. The South Asia: Houses most Undernourished!! More than 500 million Extreme Poor 23 percent of the world’s total population, 2 percent of the total global income. 40 percent of the world’s poor 35 percent of the world’s undernourished. More than 500 million Extreme Poor 23 percent of the world’s total population, 2 percent of the total global income. 40 percent of the world’s poor 35 percent of the world’s undernourished. www.equitybd.org

3. SAARC Seed Bank Agreement was signed in Addu, Maldives summit held on November, 2011 Development So Far Yet to be fully functional Has to be ratified by all member countries Among Eight 4 countries have been ratified Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal have ratified www.equitybd.org

4. Objectives of the Seed Bank www.equitybd.org

5. Scope of the Seed Bank Common Varieties: Member States will collaborate with each other in the development of a list of common variety Maintaining Seed Quality: Member State will develop a Common Minimum Seed Quality Standard (CMQS) and Seed Testing Procedures Seed Reserve: The seed reserve to be maintained shall consist of quality seeds of rice, wheat, pulses and oilseeds www.equitybd.org

6. Seed Bank: Institutional Arrangement Has a Board consisting of One member from each Member State One farmer representative on rotational basis Two members from private sector (SAARC Seed Forum) Each Member State shall designate a Nodal Point www.equitybd.org

7. Some concerns, Some analysis Undermines the Traditional Role of Seed System Idea of the Seed Security is not clearly defined – Main focus on short term security – Trying to promote seed security or seed trade? – Issue of Seed conservation is also not addressed www.equitybd.org

8. Seed Bank: Some concerns Focuses on increasing the SRR with appropriate varieties. –What about promotion of conservation of genetic resources? –How to empower local farmers to benefit from local seed systems. Need to preserve local/indigenous varieties is recognized –But what is the mechanism? Focus on standard, harmonized seed testing and certification, and facilitation of seed trade within the region - Only on modern varieties? What about local varieties of farmers? www.equitybd.org

9. Board is the administrator: farmers’ Participation is there –Mere political? Need participation of real farmers Less attention to research and climate change adaptation. Seed Bank: Some concerns www.equitybd.org

10. Established in April 2007 Is an improved version of the SAARC Food Reserve established in 1988 The reserve could not be functional due to ‘Absence of Political will’ and ‘Structural Flaws & Procedural Problems’ SAARC Food Bank: Have we learned from the past? www.equitybd.org

11. Was inactive during Sidre and Aila in Bangladesh, flood in Pakistan, cyclone in India. SAARC Food Bank: Merely inactive while function was much needed! www.equitybd.org Goal: To serve as a source of emergency supply of food from a resource of collective national reserves

12. SAARC Food Bank: Criteria for application should be revisit www.equitybd.org Criteria to be able to apply: Food crisis due to a natural shortfall as a result of natural calamity, A production shortfall i.e. 8 percent lower than the average production of last three years ‘Lack of supply in the international market’ or ‘high price volatility’ are not applicable!!

13. SAARC Food Bank: Inadequate Stock www.equitybd.org Inadequate to tackle any large scale food shortage Bangladesh’s stock is 4.7 % of total import in an average year Proposal to double the amount is still pending Proposal is to make the stock of 4,86,000 metric ton

14. SAARC Food Bank: Inadequate Stock www.equitybd.org Inadequate to tackle any large scale food shortage Bangladesh’s stock is 4.7 % of total import in an average year Proposal to double the amount is still pending Proposal is to make the stock of 4,86,000 metric ton

15. SAARC Food Bank and Seed Bank Political will is must: People’s interest must be on top www.equitybd.org Absence of political will and volatile-imbalanced regional politics are the main causes of the weak SAARC It has become mere talk shows of the leaders. An effective regional cooperation mechanism can realize the interests of the mass people.

16. Thank you All