NAM talks on food security in Bali

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, in its capacity as chairman of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM), will host a five-day ministerial meeting on food security in Bali beginning on Oct. 7, says Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah.

"President Soeharto will open the meeting," he told reporters in his office here yesterday.

He said that out of NAM's 111 countries, 30 have already confirmed their attendance.

The minister also said that representatives from Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and Finland will attend the Bali meeting as guest participants.

In addition, he said, representatives from China and Croatia will attend as observers, while Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Jacques Diouf will arrive on Oct. 10 for the meeting.

Sjarifudin also explained that Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Klaus Lampe is also scheduled to participate in the meeting.

The minister also cited that Indonesia will propose apprenticeship programs which will include an exchange of farmers and agricultural experts between participants to ensure food security among NAM members.

President Soeharto was awarded a special medal by FAO in 1986 due to his achievement in promoting food and agricultural development. Indonesia, formerly one of the biggest rice importers in the world, achieved self-sufficiency in rice in 1984.

The NAM members which have confirmed participation in the Bali meeting include Bangladesh, Benin, Colombia, Ethiopia, Gambia, Iraq, Iran, Seychelles, North Korea, Comoros, Syria, Ghana, Egypt, Mali, Thailand, Sierra Leone, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, Madagascar, Jordan, Togo, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and Saudi Arabia.(hdj)