ID :
181533
Wed, 05/11/2011 - 15:24
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http://m.oananews.org//node/181533
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ASEM conference on food security concluded in Chiang Mai
BANGKOK, May 11 (TNA) - The recent Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) high-level conference on food security, hosted in northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai province, was concluded with 20 member states agreeing to include food security policies in their national strategies.
Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, Theera Wongsamut, said that the first ASEM conference on food security hosted by Thailand, led to 11 conclusions.
Among them, member countries will push for policies to ensure food security, reduce trade distortion, increase food reserves for emergency cases, share experiences in food reserves, enhance efficiency in sustainable food production and improve the potential of small-scale farmers.
Conclusions from the conference will be presented at the ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEM Summit for further actions, in a bid to reduce the number of starving people worldwide as soon as possible. People suffering starvation numbered 925 million worldwide last year.
According to the agriculture minister, Thailand posted a trade surplus worth over 50 billion baht, with nine other ASEAN member countries out of their agricultural trade in the first quarter of this year. Thailand’s import of raw palm oil also surged during a period of its palm oil shortage.
The minister said however, he is concerned about the increasing imports of fruit and vegetables, compared with the relatively small export of Thai fruit and vegetables. He therefore urged Thai people to eat local produce. (TNA)
Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, Theera Wongsamut, said that the first ASEM conference on food security hosted by Thailand, led to 11 conclusions.
Among them, member countries will push for policies to ensure food security, reduce trade distortion, increase food reserves for emergency cases, share experiences in food reserves, enhance efficiency in sustainable food production and improve the potential of small-scale farmers.
Conclusions from the conference will be presented at the ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEM Summit for further actions, in a bid to reduce the number of starving people worldwide as soon as possible. People suffering starvation numbered 925 million worldwide last year.
According to the agriculture minister, Thailand posted a trade surplus worth over 50 billion baht, with nine other ASEAN member countries out of their agricultural trade in the first quarter of this year. Thailand’s import of raw palm oil also surged during a period of its palm oil shortage.
The minister said however, he is concerned about the increasing imports of fruit and vegetables, compared with the relatively small export of Thai fruit and vegetables. He therefore urged Thai people to eat local produce. (TNA)
