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| Tuesday, 25 May 2004 |
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Ministers agree on need to restructure agriculture in the region Thirty three Asia-Pacific countries wrapped up two days of ministerial level talks on food security last Friday, unanimously agreeing on the need for fair and equitable trade to enhance food security and reduce poverty. Expressing concern that global progress in reducing the number of under-nourished in the world seemed to have stalled, ministers and delegates urged all countries to demonstrate flexibility and commitment in advancing multilateral agricultural trade reform under the Doha Development Agenda, in order to reduce international trade distortions and provide increased opportunities for developing countries. Despite burgeoning intra-regional trade in agricultural commodities, especially for higher value products, the ministers highlighted difficulties arising from the region's growing populations and food demand, globalization, market access and associated trade-related challenges. They called on all countries working in close cooperation with international organisations to urgently reenergise political commitment and increase resources to ensure food security for all. After days of ministerial level discussions, the Beijing conference agreed on "the need for restructuring the agricultural sector, decentralisation of governance, improvement of natural resources management and enhancement of research and development and extension." Particular focus was given to sustainable management of natural resources prevention of trans boundary plant and animal disease, participatory approaches and partnerships with local communities and local organizations, empowerment of the rural poor including women, effective research and development, rural credit, post-harvest and processing technologies, improved food distribution, creation of off-farm rural employment and harmonization of plant quarantine and food safety standards. The special situation in Pacific island countries was highlighted with the ministers noting that many of these islands face food security challenges due to their distance from markets, reliance on imports to supply many basic commodities, reliance on a narrow base of exports, susceptibility to natural disasters, lack of infrastructure and low levels of investment. The ministers also heard a statement submitted by representatives of civil society groups from the Asia-Pacific region who held parallel talks on regional food security. The civil society groups stressed the importance of food sovereignty and called for the mobilization of their members as part of national alliances against hunger. The meeting reviewed a variety of hurdles to meeting the goal of the 1996 World Food Summit to reduce by half by the year 2015, the number of undernourished people in the world. The 27th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific began with three days of senior officers' discussions on May 17. On May 19 at the inaugural session of the ministerial meeting, President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao stressed the importance of agriculture in underpinning world stability, nothing that it was vital for supporting numerous aspects of economic and social development. Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia,Iran, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Mynmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, the United States of America, Vanuatu and Vietnam attended the FAO conference in Beijing, as well as an observer from the Holy See. Ten UN Specialised agencies and 21 intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations were also present. |
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