The Hindu Business Line : Doha agenda may ensure level playing field for developing nations: Pawar

STATING that globalisation is unequal and strengthens those who are already strong, India hopes that Doha Development Agenda would ensure a level playing field for developing countries.

However, many protectionist instruments such as specific duties, tariff rate quotas and anti-dumping measures and a range of non-tariff barriers continue to be used against developing countries, according to Mr Sharad Pawar, Union Minister for Agriculture.

He was addressing a roundtable of Agriculture Ministers and key policy makers at the three-day South Asia Regional Conference of International Association of Agricultural Economists.

The theme for the conference was `Globalisation of agriculture in South Asia: Has it made a difference to rural livelihoods?'

Agriculture growth in developing countries declined to 2.2 per cent a year in the last decade against 3.4 per cent a year in the previous decade.

The North spent billions of dollars to subsidise agriculture, hampering the prospects of developing countries.

The developing countries had hoped that joining the WTO would result in elimination of such protectionist measures, leading to a level playing field. "This hope was belied," he said.

Referring to the efforts to create SAPTA (South-Asia Preferential Trade Agreement) for the SAARC region, he said that it did not provide for a very high level of trade integration, especially in agricultural commodities.

Calling for establishing a free trade agreement for the region, he said that this could achieve integration in a meaningful manner.

Mr Pawar suggested that a forum to exchange information relating to agriculture be set up. "The policy makers from the region can meet more frequently to achieve this objective."

Also, the region should take up co-ordinated efforts in agricultural research and education.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Icrisat signs MoU with Nandan Biomatrix

Co-ops get Rs 1,700-cr credit under Nabard package

Rubber prices poised to peak again

Sugar mills in UP begin paying cane arrears

FCI floats tender for foodgrain sale

Bengal sees 6.4 pc rise in grains output

Smelling success

AP intervention to check falling chilli prices likely

Doha agenda may ensure level playing field for developing nations: Pawar

Call for setting up S. Asian Genome Advisory Board