ASEAN will set up rice foundation

ASEAN will set up rice foundation

JAKARTA (JP): Agriculture ministers of the Association of
Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) agreed to establish a special
foundation to boost rice production in the region during their
recent annual meeting in Hanoi.

Minister of Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin said on Wednesday
that the foundation, to be named the ASEAN Rice Foundation, would
seek funds from the private sector to finance research and
development of rice production.

The establishment of the foundation is aimed at anticipating
the increasing demand for rice in ASEAN countries and food
shortages.

The foundation will finance research conducted by the
Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to
improve the region's rice production.

"IRRI needs huge fresh funds to finance its research due to
the increasing demand for premier seeds from Asian countries
which will increase their rice production," Soleh said.

Soleh said the Philippines government pledged to provide US$1
million for the establishment of the foundation and its
headquarters.

The nine ASEAN member countries have booked an aggregate rice
surplus, as Vietnam and Thailand have exported stocks. Only
Indonesia is experiencing a rice shortage, he said.

The 20th ASEAN Meeting of Agriculture and Forestry Ministers,
or AMAF, held in Hanoi on Sept. 17 and Sept. 18, was attended by
all ASEAN's nine member countries and Cambodia. The discussion
covered many issues including regional cooperation on food
security and the promotion of intra-ASEAN trade in foodstuffs,
forest and agricultural products. (gis)