"The concept had been on the table for some years. Now all countries have finally agreed on the formation and implementation of the SAARC Food Bank," Wais Kabir, director of the SAARC Agriculture Centre in the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka, told IRIN.
"Properly [realised], it would serve as a milestone in strengthening the existing cooperation among the nations of South Asia," he said.
His comments follow last weekend's announcement at the 15th SAARC summit in Colombo, Sri Lanka, confirming the bank's establishment as part of the organisation's long-term food security and agricultural development plans for a region of more than 1.5 billion people.
The joint projects would augment food production, invest in agriculture and related industries, conduct agricultural research, share technology, assist in procurement and distribution, as well as manage climatic and disease-related risks.
Conference leaders also called for members to forge greater cooperation with the international community in ensuring food availability and nutritional security in the region.
Food reserves
Under the terms of the agreement, the bank would act as a regional food security reserve for SAARC member countries during food shortages and emergencies, as well as provide regional support to national food security efforts, foster inter-country partnerships and regional integration, and solve regional food shortages through collective action.
The bank would hold 241,580 metric tonnes (MT) in rice and wheat reserves, contributed by each SAARC member, including Bangladesh (40,000MT), Bhutan (180MT), India (153,200MT), the Maldives (200MT), Nepal (4,000MT), Pakistan (40,000MT), and Sri Lanka (4,000MT). Afghanistan's share would be decided later.
The reserves would remain the property of the individual member country and would be in addition to any national reserves.
And while no start date for the bank's opening has been announced, officials say the process will begin in a couple of months, with Sri Lanka proposing the bank's headquarters to be in Dhaka.
"This involves the construction of new food warehouses in member countries, local procurement and [the] international purchase of extra food grains, and developing an administrative system and a distribution network. So it is likely that it will take some time before operationalising the SAARC Food Bank," said Mohammad Panaullah, a senior agro-consultant to the Bangladesh government.
Initial discussions about such a bank took place 20 years ago and the plan is not without its critics. On 2 August, two civil rights organisations warned that the adoption of any unified policy on agriculture for the region on the basis of food security would ruin Bangladesh's agriculture and food production system.
"Farm sectors of South Asian countries will be hostage to multinational companies engaged in the seed business if a unified policy on agriculture is adopted for the region on the grounds of food security," Odhikar and Ubinig (Policy Research for Development Alternatives) said in a statement.
Source: IRIN
Showing posts with label 15th SAARC Summit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 15th SAARC Summit. Show all posts
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
India alleges serious security lapse at Saarc
India said on Wednesday there had been serious security lapses during a visit to Sri Lanka by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh despite the island nation’s promise of “ultimate security.”
The Sri Lankan bodyguard assigned to protect Singh did not turn up during a regional summit last weekend, while the motorcade for India’s National Security Advisor MK Narayanan failed to appear.
There was a “serious lapse in that some of the arrangements discussed and agreed to in advance, did not get implemented on the ground,” the Indian High Commission (embassy) here said in a statement.
Sri Lanka is in the grip of a long-running ethnic war between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels. The Tigers are blamed for the 1991 murder of former Indian premier Rajiv Gandhi.
The security lapse “was immediately discussed with Sri Lankan security authorities and remedial measures taken jointly.... Sri Lankan security authorities have apologised to Mr Narayanan,” the Indian statement said.
Local press reports said Narayanan wound up returning to his hotel from the conference site in a taxi.
He was stopped at two road blocks and asked to walk since his taxi did not have security clearance to get to the hotel.
The lapses came despite the Sri Lankan government promising “ultimate security” to the visiting dignitaries from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan.
Indian diplomats had voiced concerns over security ahead of the two-day summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and they had brought in their own guards, helicopters and ships to minimise any risk.
Source: www.thenews.com.pk
The Sri Lankan bodyguard assigned to protect Singh did not turn up during a regional summit last weekend, while the motorcade for India’s National Security Advisor MK Narayanan failed to appear.
There was a “serious lapse in that some of the arrangements discussed and agreed to in advance, did not get implemented on the ground,” the Indian High Commission (embassy) here said in a statement.
Sri Lanka is in the grip of a long-running ethnic war between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels. The Tigers are blamed for the 1991 murder of former Indian premier Rajiv Gandhi.
The security lapse “was immediately discussed with Sri Lankan security authorities and remedial measures taken jointly.... Sri Lankan security authorities have apologised to Mr Narayanan,” the Indian statement said.
Local press reports said Narayanan wound up returning to his hotel from the conference site in a taxi.
He was stopped at two road blocks and asked to walk since his taxi did not have security clearance to get to the hotel.
The lapses came despite the Sri Lankan government promising “ultimate security” to the visiting dignitaries from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan.
Indian diplomats had voiced concerns over security ahead of the two-day summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and they had brought in their own guards, helicopters and ships to minimise any risk.
Source: www.thenews.com.pk
Sunday, August 3, 2008
The 15th SAARC Summit draws to a close with a firm pledge to redouble efforts to counter regional terrorism.
The closing session was held at the BMICH this afternoon. Before the arrival of the leaders at the premises, Foreign Ministers and other representatives gathered for a meeting. Minister Rohitha Bogollagama welcomed President Rajapakse who has assumed Chairmanship of the eight member grouping. He was followed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Special Advisor of Bangladesh Fakhruddin Ahmed, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Prime Minister of the Caretaker Government of Nepal Girija Prasad Koirala,
Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigmi Thinley and Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani Thereafter the concluding sessions got off the grounds in the afternoon. After warmly greeting the leaders, President Rajapakse, the SAARC Chairman announced that it was pertinent to ink agreements that have been reached. Foreign Ministers representing Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka and Minister in Charge of Financial Activities of Nepal signed the agreements. Current SAARC Chairman President Rajapakse then declared that the 16th SAARC Summit will be held in the Maldives. After a brief review on matters which are most vital to achieve peace and prosperity in the region, President Rajapakse declared that the 15th SAARC Summit has concluded. The President then invited his Maldivian counterpart Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to make a special address. As SAARC Chairman, the President expressed his gratitude to the leaders for attending the Conference.
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