Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Spotlight to be on impact of WTO negotiations draft

GULBARGA: The Forum of Biotechnology and Food Security, in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, has organised a consultation with leaders of farmers’ movements in the country in New Delhi on June 11.

This is to discuss the impact of the draft of World Trade Organisation negotiations on Agriculture and Non-Agriculture Market Access (NAMA).

Basavaraj Ingin, president of Karnataka Pradesh Red Gram Growers Association, said here on Saturday that the draft had been released on May 19, and that it would have serious implications on the livelihood of farmers and fishermen in the country.

Mr. Ingin is among the 20 leaders of farmers’ organisations to be invited to participate in the consultation,

The draft would also have a serious impact on the country’s food security. The text had ignored many of the concerns raised by India and some of the other developing countries.

Despite divergences on many crucial issues in the draft text, there was a move to organise a ministerial meeting in the third week of June to discuss the draft text, he said. Mr. Ingin said that it was being hoped that the Ministerial meeting would pave the way for an agreement before the end of the year.

Leaders of associations of fishermen, forest dwellers and adivasis would also participate in the consultation.

Mr. Ingin said that the Union Government would elaborate on the status of the negotiations and clarify India’s stand on the issues.

Leaders of various political parties were also expected to participate in the meeting.

At the end of the consultation, leaders of the farmers’ movements would communicate their views on the draft text to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Judges inspect court complex
Spotlight to be on impact of WTO negotiations draft

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu