Abstract
Ever since India has become a signatory to the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture of the WTO, the issue of food security has occupied a centre stage within the academic and policy circles. The subject holds immense importance due to inherent asymmetries in the WTO’s AOA disciplines which tend to favour the developed countries more than the developing countries in a free trade regime. One such case is of support given to the agricultural sector due to food grains stockholding, which is exempt from reduction when it comes to the developed countries and faces considerable ire in the context of developing countries. It is primarily due to little amount of Amber box support and its capping at de minimis level for most of the developing countries. The book by Sachin Kumar Sharma has brought into light such anomalies in the AOA that are impinging upon the developing countries in pursuing price support measures, solely aimed to help farmers and poor consumers. The book is very timely as the WTO member countries are looking for a permanent solution whereby the price support given to maintain public stocks do ensure food security to the poor at large but at the same time bring minimal distortions in trade.
In all, the volume contains 16 chapters. Each chapter is written in a lucid manner. Chapter 1 sets the background by highlighting the issue of food security being taken up in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations and the price support measures and food security policies being followed in some of the developing countries. Chapter 2 delineates the provisions related to food security and domestic support under the WTO URAOA. Chapter 3 extends it by highlighting the issues related to food security and farm sector in selected developing and least developing countries. This is followed by a detailed account of product specific support for food grains under the AOA and estimation in 12 countries, namely China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Zambia and Zimbabwe in Chapters 4–15. The last chapter draws conclusions and suggests some possible options for agricultural negotiations at the WTO. The focus in the concluding chapter is on the way forward for the developing countries including India which stands important from the point of view of future pathways and directions on AOA provisions in addressing food security concerns. Before that the author has succinctly summarised the broad findings obtained from the country-level analysis.
The volume is an interesting reading in providing an in-depth knowledge on the issue of food security of the developing countries in a broader context of international trade. Ample studies have also pointed out that ensuring food security is an important way to address hunger and undernourishment among the poor people and trade must not act as a constraint. Given that developed countries may not agree to bringing changes in the WTO disciplines, the author makes a case by providing evidences through estimates on product specific support for wheat, rice and maize. The analysis is complemented with a reduction in the number of undernourished people due to food procurement and distribution in the selected countries. The country specific findings suggest shrinking space for developing countries in implementing food security policies due to unfair and illogical provisions of the WTO.
The book reflects author’s expertise in handling vast information relating to agriculture and food security policies within developing countries, which have important implications for alleviating hunger and malnutrition. It succinctly documents the support given by each country to its farm sector, keeping in view the three pillars of the Agreement on Agriculture, namely market access, domestic support and export competition. Each chapter ends with a concise summary and conclusion with policy implications. Since the countries chosen for analysis have different level of commitments and different currency notifications, one can see the relevance of making separate chapters on each country. A section on an analysis of support given to agriculture in the developed countries and its comparison with that in the select developing countries would have added value. Further, while deliberating on the required negotiations under the Agreement, it is increasingly important to think of food security in tandem with nutrition security. Though the two concepts are interlinked, the latter has a wider connotation due to focus on adequate and safe intake of protein, energy, vitamin and minerals along with proper health and social environment. The mere distribution of subsidised food without proper quality, and inadequate access to water, sanitation and health facilities will not help to combat rampant undernutrition and malnutrition in these countries. Support is inevitable to facilitate such services and the developing countries must work on it.
Undoubtedly, the author has provided a comprehensive and fine analysis on one of the most controversial issues being debated at the global level. A good number of suggestions have also been put forth for agricultural negotiations at the WTO in due course. The book will be of immense value to researchers, trade negotiators and policymakers in providing important insights into the subject and bringing forth the need and relevance of continuing with the stocking policy and distribution of subsidised food to the poor people. It is successful in giving a message that developing countries should continue to stay strong in favour of necessary modifications in the WTO disciplines to implement food security measures.