NFA to lead discussion on ASEAN food security situation
State-run grains agency National Food Authority (NFA) is now the forefront of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) discussion on the current food situation in the region, with a specific focus on the region's rice reserve mechanism.
On behalf of the Philippine government, the NFA is now hosting the 37th meeting of the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB) being attended by representatives from 10 member-countries.
AFSRB is an organization of 10 ASEAN nations who have committed a specific volume of rice stocks as food security reserve under the ASEAN Emergency Rice Reserve system because rice is a major staple throughout Asia.
The ASEAN rice reserve mechanism was created based on an agreement reached among member-countries in Bali, Indonesia on February 24, 1976.
"The Board meets every year to discuss developments about their respective countries’ food security situation and review the food situation in the ASEAN region in general," NFA said in a statement.
During their meetings, AFSRB member countries share their experiences, accomplishments, and best practices, anchored on the ASEAN motto “One Vision One Identity One Community.” Last year’s AFSRB meeting was hosted by Myanmar.
Members of the AFSRB are Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In the aftermath of the international food crisis of 2008, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) endorsed the establishment of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) for rice. In addition to the 10 AFSRB members, APTERR includes Japan, China, and South Korea.
APTERR is the organization that manages the contributions of the ASFRB member countries for emergency reserve. It was organized to ensure rice availability during emergencies, stabilize the price of rice, and improve farmers’ income and welfare among member countries. It aims to improve food security without distorting the international rice market.
At present, the total earmarked emergency rice reserve managed by APTERR is 787,000 metric tons. The stocks are made available to member countries under a three-tier system: Tier 1- through sales; Tier 2- through emergency grants and loans; and Tier 3- delivery of donated rice in times of acute emergency.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is now hosting an agriculture expo on the sidelines of the 30th ASEAN Summit being held now at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
According to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, the expo will feature Philippines’ finest organic and artisanal agricultural products and natural fibers.
The holding of the exposition is one of the moves by the DA under the leadership of Piñol to promote and support Filipino agricultural entrepreneurs so they will continue to produce world-class products that make use of the abundance of the country’s natural resources.
During the four-day ASEAN Summit, the DA will highlight indigenous, organic and artisanal local agricultural products ranging from fruits such as Guimaras mangoes, pili nuts from Bicol, pomelo from Davao, and vegetables from the Cordilleras.
Famed weavers from across the country will also conduct a live demonstration of the various techniques applied in their respective handloom weave.
The exhibit and live demonstration of the country’s centuries-old tradition of textile weaving was specially organized for State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of the Union of Myanmar or Burma, who will join other ASEAN leaders during the gathering.