INTERVIEW: IFAD to Help Biz Work for Farms in Developing Nations

Tokyo, April 20 (Jiji Press)--The International Fund of Agricultural Development will set up a new framework to facilitate cooperation between small agricultural producers in developing nations and businesses in Japan and elsewhere, IFAD President Alvaro Lario said Thursday. The Enhanced Linkages between Private Sector and Small-Scale Producers (ELPS) initiative will be set up with an aim of strengthening developing nations' agriculture and food systems, according to the leader of the Rome-based specialized U.N. body. The Japanese government will provide some of the funding for the program, in hopes of boosting cooperation with so-called Global South emerging and developing countries over food security. In an interview with Jiji Press in Tokyo, Lario pointed to the need to create investment opportunities for private-sector companies as governments' official development assistance programs are insufficient. He indicated that his organization will call on a wide range of companies to join the initiative, including trading houses, food manufacturers and retailers. He also said that the IFAD has already begun talks with Japanese companies. At a meeting Thursday, agriculture minister Tetsuro Nomura told Lario that Tokyo will provide 230 million yen for the initiative. The initiative is expected to receive approval from other Group of Seven nations at a two-day meeting of the G-7 agriculture ministers to be held in the southwestern city of Miyazaki from Saturday. At the meeting, to be chaired by Japan, participants will discuss boosting agricultural production using their own agricultural resources. Lario, who is in Japan to attend the meeting, said that the idea of creating a resilient and sustainable food system is important. He also underscored the need to hold discussions on a wide range of topics linked with food, not just about food production. Noting that climate change and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have led to a heightened awareness of food security in advanced economies, Lario voiced hopes for the G-7 meeting, saying that political will is crucial to overcoming difficulties. END