D8 Delegates Happy With Outcome

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Delegates of the D8 Ministers Meeting on Food Security are generally satisfied with the outcome of the three-day meeting which ended on Friday.

Iran Deputy Agriculture Minister (Planning and Economic Affairs) J. Khalghani said the D8 meeting worked and decided on very important issues which could help, not only the Islamic developing countries, but also the farmers.

"I feel the initiatives are good because they are very applicable and involve the private sector," he said.

He said the D8 had also agreed to set up an information system to gather information from all the members in preparation for workshops that were scheduled to be held in six months.

"The workshops are very important for us because they will decide on specific issues that are going to take place and be implemented in each country," added Khalghani.

Pakistan High Commissioner Lt Gen (Rtd) Tahir Mahmud Qazi said the meeting displayed definite action in moving forward.

He said Pakistan's agro-based economy could positively contribute to the initiative, especially in providing seeds to the seed bank.

"However, we are short in fertilizers, so we are hoping for other countries to help us in that field," he added.

Indonesia's Agency for Agricultural Research and Development director Gatot Irianto said the meeting enabled D8 countries to share knowledge and resources, specifically in fertilisers, seed banks and animal feed, and the two new developed areas involving the standard and trade issues and marine and fisheries.

"I think through these five working groups, we can set up concrete and realistic programmes between the private sector and government to cope with the food crisis in the future," he said.

Nigerian Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources Fidelia Akuabata Njeze said the initiatives were "wonderful" and would help the D8 countries to solve their food security problems.

-- BERNAMA