|
HANOI, Feb 15 (VNA): After two years of operation, the East Asia Rice Emergency Reserve (EAERR) has increase its reserve to 337,000 tonnes, according to a report presented at the sixth Meeting of the Project Steering Committee of EAERR in Hanoi yesterday.
To the reserve, Japan contributed 250,000 tonnes and ASEAN member countries contributed 87,000 tonnes, including 14,000 tonnes from Vietnam.
The meeting will focus discussion on a draft EAERR Agreement; assess the Hunger Elimination and Poverty Reduction Pilot Project in Laos; and launch the EAERR steering board's activities in 2006.
The steering committee will also review strategies to establish an emergency rice reserve stored under national and regional reserve arrangement that can be released at any time to anticipate insecure food conditions due to natural or human- induced calamities.
Efforts will be also geared towards mobilisation of emergency reserve stocks to improve the region's readiness to cope with food shortage conditions.
According to EAERR, to ensure regional food security, at least 1.5 million tonnes of rice are annually required for reserve.
EAERR is a regional food security body of member countries of ASEAN plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN+3). It was established to help member countries face natural calamities and epidemic diseases. In addition, funds raised by member countries can be also used to finance poverty reduction projects.
|