REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – United States and ASEAN launched a three year project named Maximizing Agricultural Revenue through Knowledge, Enterprise Development, and Trade (MARKET) on Tuesday, March 29, in Jakarta. The program aims to improve food security for ASEAN Member States and facilitate the trade of food commodities.
“Boosting food trade will improve the lives of ASEAN citizens by reducing costs and increasing the variety of food products available in local markets,” said US Ambassador David Carden. “More trade provides more business opportunities, which translates into new jobs in the transportation, manufacturing, wholesaling and retail businesses that depend on a ready supply of agricultural products.”
The project helps ASEAN to engage in dialogue with private sectors and civil society on food security policy and regional food solutions. “The project is increasing food production. Private sector and farmer organizations can make a contribution to ASEAN policy development,” the Director of the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Development Mission for Asia, Michael Yates, said.
By engaging the dialogue with private sectors, the regulatory environment will improve. It also helps the private sector to deliver cost-effective, sustainable services to farmers and consumers. The involvement of private sector can increase agricultural productivity, identify gaps in policies to promote trade, improve operational management, and address an efficient use of limited natural resources.
The Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN, Sundram Pushpanathan, hoped that some conferences on food security could be held to gather input from the private sector and build sustainable food security in ASEAN region. The US also has initiative to tackle global hunger and food security namely Feed the Future which address the root causing poverty, hunger, and under-nutrition. It aims to help millions of poor to escape hunger and poverty by increasing agricultural productivity, cutting poverty, stimulating economic growth, and reducing under-nutrition.
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