INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.
1. INTERNATIONAL GRAINS COUNCIL
India is a member of the International Grains Council (IGC) which was previously known as International Wheat Council up to 1995 & is an intergovernmental forum of exporting and importing countries for co-operation in wheat and coarse grain matters. It administers the Grains Trade Convention 1995. The IGC Secretariat, based in London since 1949, also services the Food Aid Committee, established under the Food Aid Convention. International Grains Agreement comprises of Grains Trade Convention (GTC) and Food Aid Convention (FAC). India is a signatory to the International Grains Agreement (IGA) 1995 and its Grain Trade Convention (GTC) 1995 which is effective from 1st July 1995. IGC have two types of members-Importing Members and Exporting Members. India has been included in the category of Exporting members since July, 2003 and is represented the meetings/session of the Council held from time to time. During the year 2009, the Department of Food & P.D. has represented India in the meetings of the Executive Committee meeting held in London on 6th May, 2009, 29th Council Session of International Grains Council (IGC), IGC conference, 2009 held in London on 8th -9th June, 2009, Market Conditions Committee meeting held in London on 10th March, 2009.
India being a member of the International Grains Council, this Department pays the annual membership contribution to International Grains Council. For the fiscal year 2008-09, India’s membership contribution of £16,276 has been fully paid.
2. WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME
Government of India is allocating food grains at BPL rates to the beneficiaries belonging to BPL category under the development Schemes administered by International Organisations like World Food Programme. The New Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) 2008-2012 has been signed between GOI and the United Nations World Food Programme(UNWFP) on 28/04/2008. Under this programme, the Department of Food & Public Distribution has committed that foodgrains(wheat & rice) would be allocated for the utilization of WFP-assisted projects in India as per the following:-
Contd../-
(in MT)
|
Year
Food grains
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
Total
|
|
Wheat
|
40806
|
40986
|
27334
|
27496
|
12780
|
149402
|
|
Rice
|
7493
|
7526
|
6692
|
6732
|
6258
|
34701
|
|
Wheat
|
48299
|
48512
|
34026
|
34228
|
19038
|
184103
|
For the current financial year 2009-2010, an allocation of 40,986 MTs of wheat & 7,526 MTs of rice has been made at BPL rates to World Food Programme for the developmental schemes in the country for the various WFP supported/assisted projects under the New Country Programme 2008 -2012.
3. SAARC FOOD BANK
An Agreement to establish a SAARC Food Security Reserve Board was signed by the SAARC Countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) during the Third SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in 1997. India had prepared a concept paper on the establishment of SAARC Food Security Bank. In pursuant to the decision taken in the 14th SAARC Summit held in New Delhi on April 3-4, 2007, the Heads of State or Government has signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on establishing the SAARC Food Bank with the participation of all the SAARC countries. The Food Bank will supplement national efforts to provide food security to the people of the region. The agreement on Establishing the SAARC Food Bank has since been ratified by the President of India on 17th April, 2007. As per agreement, India’s assessed share of Food Grains for the SAARC Food Bank is 1,53,200 MTs out of total share of 2,43,000 MTs of the reserve. Dr. Bhagwan Sahai, Joint Secretary(IC) had participated in the First meeting of the SAARC Food Bank Board held on 15th -16th October, 2008 and Second meeting of SAARC Food Bank Boardduring 12th -13th February, 2009 held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
4. FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION (FAO)
FAO is one of the largest specialized agency in the UN System founded in 1945 with a mandate to raise levels of nutrition and standard of living to improve agricultural productivity and to better the conditions of rural population. The Committee on World
Contd…/-
Food Security (CFS) serves as a forum in the United Nations System for review and follow-up of policies concerning world food security, including food production and physical and economic access to food. India is a member to both FAO and CFS. Committee on World Food Security (CFS) monitors the progress on implementation of the WFS Plan of Action. FAO and Ministry of Agriculture on behalf on Government of India have signed a Pilot Project for Developing National Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS) in India in the two states viz. Himanchal Pradesh and Orissa. The FIVIMS study in these states has since been completed.
The Department of Food and Public Distribution is National Focal Point for establishment of FIVIMS in India. Pursuant to the declaration adopted by the World Food Summit: Five years later in Rome in June, 2002, council of FAO established an Inter-Governmental Working Group (IGWG) as a subsidiary body of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). India is a member of the Inter Governmental Working Group in the formulation of set of voluntary guidelines for enforcement of the right to adequate Food to address the issue of Food Security.
An Agreement on Project titled “Support for the Preparation of a Regional Programme for Food Security” has been signed between the Director General of FAO and the Secretary General of SAARC on 9th March, 2007. As agreed in the project document, a Regional Technical Working Group(RTWG) and National Technical Working Group(NTWG) have been formed. Joint Secretary(IC) in the Department of Food & P.D. represents India as a member of the RTWG while the National Technical Working Group(NTWG), India was constituted under the leadership of Dr. R.B. Singh.
Three Regional Consultation on Regional Food Security have since been held with the collaboration of FAO – First in Islamabad during 16th -17th July, 2007, Second in Colombo, Sri Lanka during 27th-29th February, 2008 and the third in Male, Maldives during 27-29th May, 2008. Dr. Bhagwan Sahai, Joint Secretary in this Department has
Contd…/-
represented India in all three consultation meeting in his capacity as Member, RTWG, India. The Country Position Papers on India entitled “Food Security in India and Perspective of the Country on Regional Strategy and Programmes for food Security” prepared byNTWG has since been presented by members of RTWG & Head of the NTWG in the Second Regional Consultation on Regional Food Security held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
5. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
India is a member of two International bodies, namely the International Grains Council(IGC) and International Sugar Organisation. A sum of Rs.14.00 lakh has been provided in the budget for meeting the expenditure on contribution to International Grains Council and Rs. 26.00 lakh for payment of contribution to International Sugar Council for the year 2009-10.
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