Date:21/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/12/21/stories/2004122100851000.htm

Back Food aid shipments may top 8.5 mt

Our Bureau

Mumbai , Dec. 20

TOTAL food aid shipments in 2004-05 are expected to reach an estimated 8.5 million tonnes (mt), matching the volume shipped in the previous year, according to Food Aid Committee (FAC), a group of donor countries.

Members' commitment under the food aid convention is a minimum 5 mt a year.

Meeting early this month in London, FAC members exchanged information about the food aid situation in developing countries and their recent emergency responses.

This included the deteriorating outlook in the Darfur region of Sudan and the protracted food security problems in southern Africa connected with the AIDS pandemic, International Grains Council said.

To strengthen its capacity to meet identified needs when food aid is the most appropriate response, the FAC working group identified two main issues that included improving the eligible recipients' needs assessments as well as a number of trade-related food aid issues being addressed in the WTO agricultural negotiations.