Global Development Network (GDN) Regional Workshop
GDN Regional Workshop on “Supporting Policy Research to Inform Agriculture Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia,” took place at the Galle Face Hotel during 22nd and 23rd October 2012.
Dr. Parakrama Samaratunga, Research Fellow, IPS, led the research team that looked into the problem of “Agricultural Pricing and Procurement Policy in South Asia”. He presented his findings at the GDN workshop and stressed the importance of policy package comprising Price and Procurement along with Public Distribution of food grains, which has been adopted all over South Asia for many decades which has only been partially successful in achieving its twin objectives of subsidizing farmers and stabilizing grain prices. Yet South Asia is still not in a position to completely withdraw such intervention and need for further continuation of these policies which still exists in spite of the escalating costs of such operations. Accordingly, a middle path drawing upon the strengths of both public policy and private market operations was recommended as a promising way forward.
Welcome Remarks at the Workshop was delivered by Hon. Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister for International Monetary Co-operation, Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Krishbid Shawkat Momen Shahjahan, MP and Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh, His Excellency Prasad Kariyawasam, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India & member GDN Assembly, Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, IPS, and Dr. George Mavrotas, Chief Economist, GDN.
Highlights in the Media
