Ending hunger and ensuring food security should be the basis for negotiations on agriculture at the WTO, eminent farm scientist M S Swaminathan said on Tuesday as he appreciated India’s strong stand on food security.
As 164 member countries of the WTO brainstorm various issues, India has adopted a tough stand on agriculture, saying absence of a permanent solution to the public stock-holding of food would impact the credibility of the multilateral trading institution.
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In a series of tweets, Swaminathan said Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, “deserves gratitude” for indicating at the ongoing WTO Ministerial Meeting that there will be no compromise on food security.
Minister @sureshpprabhu deserves gratitude for indicating at #BuenosAires #WTO that there's no compromise on #foodsecurity. WTO exists to promote free & fair trade. “Fair” should include protection of livelihood & food security of our majority who depend on farming #IndiaAtWTO
— M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) December 12, 2017
He said that in 1992 itself, he had suggested there should be a livelihood and food security box which recognises that agriculture in many developing countries including India is not a commercial enterprise but the backbone of livelihood security of a large population.
This difference between commercial & livelihood should be kept in mind. #WTO should recognise support to achieve #SDG2 'End hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition & promote sustainable agriculture' & this should be the basis of negotiation in agriculture #IndiaAtWTO
— M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) December 12, 2017
The renowned scientist, who is credited with bringing in green revolution in India, said WTO exists to promote free an fair trade.
Prabhu in his plenary address had emphasised that WTO members must find a permanent solution to the public food stockpile issue as it was linked to survival of 800 million hungry people across the globe.
Besides, public stock-holding issue, India is also engaging in several other areas like services, fisheries and e-commerce to ensure that outcomes are in tandem with India’s stated position.
The Quint
