Jakarta: Agreeing to exchange information on rice and acknowledging the multiple benefits of millets, the ASEAN-India Summit held here on Thursday decided to strengthen cooperation on food security and nutrition through promoting mutual trade and investment.
The Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India in the ‘ASEAN-Indian Joint Leaders’ Statement on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises’ declared to “exchange information on national policy frameworks, particularly for rice and other priority crop commodities.”
Rice is a staple and critical component of regular diet for billions of people across Asia. The challenges are many, including the changing climatic conditions, especially lower rainfall that has shrunk rice production, and other factors.
In his address at the 20th ASEAN-India summit here in the Indonesian capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the 10-nation grouping as the epicentre of growth as the region plays a crucial role in global development.
The statement also welcomed the ‘ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises’ adopted on September 5, 2023, and committed to maintaining and supporting ASEAN as the epicentrum of global growth and “to increase concerted efforts between ASEAN and India in sustaining supply in the food trade supply chain despite disruptions.”
Through the September 5 statement, the ASEAN nations had agreed to ensure “unimpeded trade and flow of agri-food products and essential farm inputs” by facilitating logistics and transport distribution, refraining from imposing unjustified trade barriers, restrictions and other trade-distortive measures.”
The ASEAN-Indian Joint Leaders’ Statement also acknowledged the nutritional richness, climate resilience, health benefits and ecological sustainability of millets.
PTI