Though South Asia has enjoyed rapid economic growth in recent years, the region is still grappling with extreme poverty, undernourishment, and a deterioration of natural resources. A growing population and rising economic growth are placing tremendous pressure on both the agriculture sector and natural resource base to meet the present and future demands for food. South Asia is home to more than 42 percent of the world’s poor earning less than US$1.25 per day. Nearly 21 percent of the population is undernourished and more than 41 percent of children are underweight.
In light of these challenges, IFPRI launched its South Asia Initiative in 2002 and established its South Asia Office (SAO) in New Delhi in 2005. SAO engages in evidence-based research and capacity strengthening related to food and nutrition security in the region.
Our Research
The looming threat of climate change will undoubtedly impact South Asian economies and is likely to have strong adverse effects on food production and the poor. At the same time, rapid economic expansion and population growth has put pressure on the region’s natural resources, especially water and land. In India, IFPRI researchers are examining the economic feasibility of climate smart interventions via available technologies, policy options, and institutional frameworks.
SAO is also investigating modern food value chains, which have been increasingly recognized as a means to enhance market efficiency and promote inclusive agricultural growth and sustainable rural development in developing countries. The office is working to understand the nuances of marketing channels and value-chain financing sources. Visit the South Asia Office website.
South Asia COVID-19 Blog Series
IFPRI-South Asia is curating a special series of blog posts analyzing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sub-national, national, and regional food and nutrition security, poverty, and development. The IFPRI-SAR blog series is produced in collaboration with ReSAKSS-Asia, which aims to mobilize research to inform policies to reduce poverty and hunger in Asia. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to make sure you do not miss upcoming posts.
Shahidur Rashid
Director, South Asia Office
Sunil Saroj
Senior Research Analyst
Project Alive and Thrive
Feeding India’s babies: Insights on trends and patterns from the National Family Health Surveys, 2015-16 to 2019-21
Regional developments [in 2023 Global Food Policy Report]
Farm size limits agriculture's poverty reduction potential in Eastern India even with irrigation-led intensification
The Ukraine war and its food security implications in Sri Lanka
How is India doing on malnutrition and non-communicable diseases? Insights from the National Family Health Surveys (2005-06 to 2019-21)
Coverage of nutrition and health Interventions in INDIA: Insights from the National Family Health Surveys
Tracking anemia and its determinants from 2015-16 to 2019-21 in India
Effects of weather and food market risks on household agriculture-nutrition linkage: Micro-level insights from India
A 2019-20 social accounting matrix for Balochistan, Pakistan
The vital roles of blue foods in the global food system
COVID-19 Impact on Rural Men and Women in Nepal, Round 4
COVID-19 Impact on Rural Men and Women in Nepal, Round 3
COVID-19 Impact on Rural Men and Women in Nepal, Round 2
COVID-19 Impact on Rural Men and Women in Nepal, Round 5
COVID-19 Impact on Rural Men and Women in Nepal, Round 1
Social Accounting Matrix for India 2017-18
A&T India Maternal Nutrition Nested Cohort Study 2019: Postnatal
A&T Bangladesh Urban Maternal Nutrition Baseline Survey 2020: Health Facility Assessment
A&T India Maternal Nutrition Nested Cohort Study 2019: Recruitment
A&T India Maternal Nutrition Nested Cohort Study 2019: Late Pregnancy
- Research Post
COVID-19 in South Asia: Lessons from a time of upheaval
- IFPRI Program/Country EventNov, 9 - 10 2022
Delivering for Nutrition in South Asia: Transforming Diets
- Series/Special EventAug, 17 2022
Bangladesh’s Discussion of IFPRI’s 2022 Global Food Policy Report: Climate Change and Food Systems
- Series/Special EventJul, 21 2022
India's Discussion of IFPRI’s 2022 Global Food Policy Report: Climate Change and Food Systems
- Series/Special EventJul, 18 2022
Nepal's Discussion of IFPRI’s 2022 Global Food Policy Report: Climate Change and Food Systems
- IFPRI Policy SeminarMar, 22 2022
Food for All: International Organizations and the Transformation of Agriculture
- IFPRI Policy SeminarMar, 7 2022
COVID-19 & Global Food Security: 2 Years Later
- In the News
Recalibrate BIMSTEC (Hindu Business Line)