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)