Chennai The food subsidies targeted at the poorest in the South Asia region would help them cope with the spike in cost of food staples like rice and wheat, although the price rise may push tens of millions people into extreme poverty, says a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB)

South Asia’s high population growth rates and a large number of people already living on or close to the extreme poverty line of $1.25 a day means it is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to food price shocks. Spending on food already accounts for half the total budget of low-income households.