GROUP 2 REPORT

Sessions 2/3 Breakout

Group Discussion
1. CONCERNS of ASEAN member
countries on rice self-sufficiency
• Policy issues: National stability and sovereignty,
political issues, price policy (negative impact on
consumers)
• Data: Reliable basic information needed on
production, consumption, etc.
• Coordination: Rice importers and rice exporters
• Food security issues: Rising production costs, climate
change shocks, declining interest in farming due to
rapid urbanization, affordability/accessibility/
availability/stability/safety of foods
2. OPTIONS for rice self-sufficiency
under ASEAN Economic Community
• Maintain Article 24 of ASEAN Trade in Goods
Agreement (ATIGA) on exception of rice and sugar.
• Develop policy coordination on marketing and
information network among AMS, information on
rice stocks of exporting countries, guaranteed price
by importing countries, monitoring of rice stocks on
regional/national/district levels.
• Study viable measures on fixed self-sufficiency and
flexible self-sufficiency; if self-sufficiency is not
attained, buy from the world market or avail from
APTERR stocks.
4. STEPS to address self-sufficiency
concerns of rice-importing countries and
to promote rice trade
• Undertake public investments to prioritize farmers
and irrigation, to increase productivity, to enhance
better understanding between industry players and
farmers associations, and to ensure food security of
the most vulnerable poor.
• Provide timely and accurate information on the
world and ASEAN regional rice supply situations;
encourage AMS to be more transparent regarding
their real rice needs yearly.
• Develop tighter cooperation among AMS to promote
sustained rice trade.
4. TRANSITION MEASURES needed to
move toward ASEAN Economic Community
• Develop sustained rice trade, which includes G-to-G
swap contracts (lean and harvest seasons),
establishment of a rice trading index, lifting
export/import restrictions, encouraging the private
sector to import through the state trading exchange.
• Institute reforms in tariff policy to stabilize prices
and protect consumer interest.
• Provide safety nets for local farmers, including
providing alternative agricultural commodities and
capacity building.
5. ROLES: Private sector & civil society
• Develop public–private partnership on postharvest
processes (milling, storage), R&D, establishing a rice
commodity exchange, increasing investments to raise
productivity and efficiency, value chain development.
• Encourage the private sector to address and improve
rice quality standards.
• Encourage CSOs to step up grassroots training and
education work, monitor farmers and farm conditions.
• Require the government to adopt a more transparent,
predictable, non-distortive policy on rice trade; play a
more pro-active role in food security requirements, and
provide a more open market to encourage private sector
participation.
THANK YOU!
Group 2