GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND TECHNICAL EXPERTS FROM ASIA AND AFRICA ARE MEETING IN THAILAND THIS WEEK FOR SECOND ASIA-AFRICA FORUM. THE OFFICIALS ARE SEEKING WAYS TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA, AND TO SEE WHAT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED FROM THE ASIAN EXPERIENCE. FOOD SECURITY IS HIGH ON THE AGENDA.MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN AND SPOKEN ABOUT THE "ASIAN MIRACLE" -- HOW ASIA HAS BASKED IN EXPLOSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH. BUT EXPERTS AT THE ASIA-AFRICA FORUM WARN THAT THE MIRACLE HAS A DOWNSIDE WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD SECURITY -- THE ABILITY OF A NATION TO FEED ITSELF.
THEY SAY WHEN NATIONS INDUSTRIALIZE AND DEVELOP, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION BEGINS TO DROP OFF, AS PEOPLE MOVE FROM THE COUNTRY TO THE CITY IN SEARCH OF THEIR SHARE OF THE NEWFOUND PROSPERITY. POPULATIONS ALSO INCREASE, STRAINING THE FOOD SUPPLY. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED IN ASIA, THEY SAY, AND WILL HAPPEN IN AFRICA AS IT EMBARKS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
ZAFAR ALTAF OF PAKISTAN'S PLANNING COMMISSION SAYS POLITICAL STABILITY -- A CONTINUING PROBLEM IN PARTS OF AFRICA -- ALSO AFFECTS FOOD PRODUCTION.
THE STAPLE OF THE ASIAN DIET IS RICE. KEN FISCHER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE PHILIPPINES-BASED INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSITUTE, SAYS PEOPLE IN AFRICA WOULD EAT MORE RICE -- IF THEY COULD GET IT.
MR. FISCHER SAYS THAT, UNLIKE OTHER CROPS, SUCH AS WHEAT AND SOYBEANS, ONLY ABOUT FOUR PERCENT OF THE RICE PRODUCED IN THE WORLD IS TRADED IN GLOBAL MARKETS. ASIA KEEPS WHAT IT GROWS -- AND ASIA'S NEEDS, HE SAYS, ARE GROWING.
THIS REGION REQUIRES IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS, 60 PERCENT MORE RICE THAN IT GROWS TODAY. NOW THAT'S 300 MILLION TONS OF RICE NEEDED HERE IN ASIA. REMEMBER, 90 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S RICE IS GROWN AND PRODUCED AND CONSUMED IN ASIA TODAY. AND IN 20 YEARS TIME WE NEED ANOTHER 60 PERCENT. SO ASIA WILL NOT BE EXPORTING RICE, APART FROM SOME VERY HIGH QUALITY RICES THAT THAILAND MAY EXPORT.
MR. FISCHER SAYS ASIA'S EXPANDING FOOD NEEDS NOT ONLY PRECLUDE THE EXPORT OF RICE TO AFRICA, BUT ALSO MEANS THE REGION WILL HAVE TO GROW MORE RICE, USING FEWER RESOURCES.
WHAT ASIA HAS TO DO IS FIND WAYS OF GROWING MOST OF THAT 60 PERCENT ITSELF. AND IT HAS A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE'S NO LAND -- IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GROW IT ON LESS LAND. THAT LAND, GOOD AGRICULTURAL LAND IS BEING USED FOR COMMERCIALIZATION AND URBANIZATION. IT CERTAINLY HAS TO GROW IT WITH LESS WATER. AS WATER BECOMES MORE COMPETITIVE WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS OF REDUCING THE WATER USE IN RICE. AND WE HAVE TO GROW IT WITH LESS CHEMICALS, LESS PESTICIDES, WHICH HARM THE ENVIRONMENT.
AS AFRICA MOVES DOWN THE PATH OF INCREASED DEVELOPMENT, MR. FISCHER SAYS, ASIA WILL HAVE TO HELP AFRICA IN OTHER, LESS DIRECT WAYS, SUCH AS DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGIES TO ENHANCE PRODUCTION AND INCREASE CROP YIELDS.
12-Jun-97
Source: Voice of America