A Guide to the SAARC Food Bank - South Asian …saarc-sec.org/assets/responsive_filemanager/source/Files...46 A Publication of the SAARC FOOD BANK BOARD South Asian Association for

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A Publication of the

SAARC FOOD BANK BOARDSouth Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Secretariat

A Guide to the SAARC Food Bank

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Contents

S.No. Page No.

01. Preface from the Secretary General of SAARC

02. Introduction 1

03. Working Guidelines/Standard Operating Procedures for theSAARC Food Bank 4

04. Terms of Reference (ToR) and list of designated Food BankNodal Pointsa. Terms of Reference for the Nodal Points 6

b. List of the SAARC Food Bank Nodal Points 7

05. Guidelines for determination of price of foodgrains 9

06. Foodgrain reserve & country-wise location of godowns

a. Assessed Shares of Foodgrains for the Food Bank 10

b. Earmarked Shares of Foodgrains for the Food Bank 11

c. Locations of the Godowns/Storage Facilities 12

Annex-I: Agreement on establishisng the SAARC FoodSecurity Reserve 21

Annex-II: Agreement on establishisng the SAARC Food Bank 31

Annex-III: List of Meetings

a. SAARC Food Security Reserve Board Meetings 45

b. SAARC Food Bank Board Meetings 45

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PREFACE

The Third SAARC Summit (Kathmandu, 1987) witnessed the signing of anAgreement establishing the SAARC Food Security Reserve. The Agreement, whichcame into force on 12 August 1988, provided for a reserve of foodgrains for meetingfood emergencies in the member countries. However, the Reserve could not beutilized due to a host of procedural and practical difficulties.

Therefore, the decision of the Twelfth SAARC Summit (Islamabad, 4-6 January2004) to establish a Regional Food Bank, replacing the erstwhile Food SecurityReserve, must be seen as the turning point in SAARC’s campaign to ensure foodsecurity in the region. The Agreement establishing the SAARC Food Bank, whichwas signed during the Fourteenth SAARC Summit (New Delhi, 3-4 April 2007),entered into force on 7 January 2013.

Till date, the SAARC Food Bank Board has held eight meetings, during whichoperational modalities have been finalized and the quantum of the foodgrains hasalso been doubled.

The publication, A Guide to the SAARC Food Bank, is aimed at putting in onedocument all the provisions governing the SAARC Food Bank and the formalitiesto be completed by member countries willing to avail of foodgrains from the Bank.

I do hope that the member countries and the stakeholders concerned across theregion will find the publication handy and user-friendly.

(Arjun B. Thapa)Secretary General of SAARC

Kathmandu, March 2016

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INTRODUTION

During the Third SAARC Summit (Kathmandu, 1987), an Agreement onestablishing the SAARC Food Security Reserve was signed, which cameinto force on 12 August 1988. The Agreement provided for a reserve offoodgrains for meeting food emergencies in member countries. Initially, thesize of the Reserve was 199,800 MTs, which was subsequently enhanced to241,580 MTs in 2002. It was administered by the SAARC Food SecurityReserve Board (FSRB) comprising representatives from each member country.The Board used to meet once a year. The main functions of the Board were toundertake a periodic review of the food situation and prospects in the region,including factors such as production, consumption, trade prices, quality andstocks of food grains. The Agreement was subsequently amended by theTwenty-second Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers (Kathmandu,January 2002), elaborating the definition of `emergency’.

The idea behind the setting up of the Reserve was to allow member countriesto utilize it at times of food crises. However, no member country could utilizethe food stock available under the Reserve due to a host of procedural andpractical difficulties. In 1997-98, when Bangladesh could not access theReserve in the face of some procedural difficulties despite acute shortage offoodgrains in the country, the unaccessibility to the Reserve was highlightedand one proposal was made to simplify the procedures to withdraw foodgrainsfrom the Reserve in emergencies. Gradually, the ideas of Nodal Points andInstitutions, specimen of grains/harmonized safety standards, transport,delivery, inspection and pricing guidelines came up.

During the recent earthquake in Nepal, the Secretariat consulted the BoardMember from Nepal to explore the possibility of providing food support tothe latter from the Food Bank. No formal request has been received from theGovernment of Nepal as of today.

Taking into note the challenges and hindrances in the operationalization ofthe Reserve, the Twelfth SAARC Summit (Islamabad, 4-6 January 2004)decided to establish a Regional Food Bank and the Thirteenth Summit (Dhaka,

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November 2005) reiterated the merit of the idea. The Concept Paper on theestablishment of the SAARC Regional Food Bank was considered by theThird Meeting of the Technical Committee on Agriculture and RuralDevelopment (TCARD) (New Delhi, 18-19 September 2006). The Committeerevised the Paper incorporating comments of all the Member States, wideningthe scope of the Agreement establishing the SAARC Food Security Reserve.An Inter-governmental Expert Group meeting (New Delhi, 1-2 March 2007)finalized the draft Agreement, which was subsequently signed during theFourteenth SAARC Summit (New Delhi, 3-4 April 2007), superseding theerstwhile Food Security Reserve. On completion of the ratification of theAgreement, it entered into force on 7 January 2013. Till date, the Board hasheld eight meetings. The Board is working on the detailed working procedureand way forward, and, at the same time, is considering if any Member Stateneeds support from the Bank.

Throughout the process, operational modalities have been finalized and thequantum of the foodgrains has also been doubled. Apparently, two pressingissues for the Food Bank are: fixing the price of the foodgrains and finalizingthe modalities for transportation of foodgrains from the donor country to thereceiving country. The SAARC Secretariat has approached the InternationalFood Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the UN Economic and SocialCommission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) to conduct a comprehensivestudy addressing all the issues that stand in the way of operationalizing theFood Bank. SAARC has lately received a proposal from the UN-ESCAP tocommission a study on ‘operationalizing the Food Bank’ which would soonbe forwarded to the Member States for consideration. It is hoped that theproposed Study would recommend initiatives needed to operationalize theFood Bank.

The Thirty-eighth Session of the Standing Committee (Thimphu, 6-7 February2011) discussed issues of guidelines such as price incentives and loweringthe threshold of 8% food loss to avail of foodgrains from the Bank.Accordingly, the Board in subsequent meetings discussed the guidelines withtechnical inputs from the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC). The EighteenthSummit (Kathmandu, November 2014) directed to eliminate the thresholdcriteria from the Agreement. Subsequently, the Secretariat circulated a draft

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amendment as entrusted by the Eighth Food Bank Board and so far hasobtained comments from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka.

To make the information pertaining to the Food Bank user-friendly and handy,the Seventh Board Meeting as well as some previous meetings suggestedthat the Secretariat may put together the documents and make these availablein a published volume. The Secretariat has accordingly sought updatedinformation from the Member States and collated those for this publication.

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1 Agreed by the Second Food Bank Board Meeting (Colombo, 12-13 February 2009) andrevised by the Seventh Food Bank Board Meeting (New Delhi, 10-11 November 2014).

i. As provided for in the Agreement, the foodgrains maintained indesignated godowns/storage facilities would be beyond the purviewof respective domestic regulations in order to facilitate expeditious utilizationexpeditious utilization of the foodgrain stocks;

ii. Request(s) for accessing the Food Bank reserve would be made directlyby a Nodal Point to his counterpart Nodal Point(s) in coordination withrespective National Focal Points and Members of the Board;

iii. In order to ensure most expeditious response during an emergency, arequest by a Nodal Point to his counterpart(s) would be responded toas quickly as possible but not later than two working days of the requestreceived;

iv. SAARC Secretariat would facilitate intimation to all Nodal Points ofrequest(s) made by a Nodal Point to other Nodal Point(s) i.e. in terms ofavailing of its own reserve or, request to avail of share of other MemberStates maintained under the Food Bank;

v. If a Member State intends to avail of its own reserve, as provided for inArticle VIII of the Agreement, it would only require its Nodal Pointto intimate other Nodal Points through the National Focal Point andthe SAARC Secretariat;

vi. If multiple requests are received by a Member State, then the requestedMember State may respond by making its share equitably available tothe requesting Member States;

vii. Although Articles VII and VIII (2) of the Agreement provide forreplenishment of the food grain by a Member State within a maximumperiod of one calendar year and two years respectively, considering

Working Guidelines/Standard Operating Procedure for theSAARC Food Bank1

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2 As recommended by the Sixth SAARC Food Bank Board (Thimphu, 25-26 November 2013).

the modest quantum of the Bank reserves, the Member States shouldreplenish the drawn quantum within a maximum period of six (6)months;

viii. In keeping with Article VI of the Agreement, the requested Member Statewould make arrangements to complete the transaction at the earliest butnot exceeding a period of sixty (60) days of the receipt of the request;

ix. For determination of price, Article IX (3) of the Agreement, read togetherwith the broad guidelines contained in paragraph 14 of the Report ofthe Board’s First Meeting, would continue to remain the basis;

x. Transportation modalities would be worked out by the concerned MemberStates;

xi. Payment time and module will be subject of consultation betweenrespective Member States; and

xii. Central Grain Analysis Laboratory (CGAL) of India would be consideredas the SAARC Foodgrain Testing Reference Laboratory2.

;

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Terms of Reference for the Nodal Points1

1. Each Member country shall designate Nodal Point(s) responsible fortransacting all business at the national level related to operations of theFood Bank;

2. The Member Country in need shall directly notify, through its designatedNodal Point(s), the other Member Country or countries of the foodemergency or shortage;

3. The other Member Country (read as Nodal Point) or countries on beingso requested shall take immediate steps to make necessary arrangementsto ensure immediate and speedy release of the required foodgrains;

4. The requesting Member Country (read as Nodal Point) shall, at the sametime, through the Ministry of Foreign/External Affairs, inform the Boardof its request to the other Member Country or countries to coordinate;and

5. Private sector importer(s) in a Member Country in need may apply to thedesignated Nodal Point(s) of that country, who shall transact all activitieson behalf of the private sector importer(s) and shall be responsible forthe transaction(s). The Member Countries may develop appropriateguidelines for involving the private sector in conformity with its nationallegislations, procedures and requirements.

1 Reference Article X (6) of the Agreement.

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List of the SAARC Food Bank Nodal Points49

AFGHANISTAN Mr. Ghulam SakhiManager (Strategic Reserves)Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and LivestockKabulTel:+93-0-706080429Email: [email protected]

BANGLADESH Mr. Md. Ataur RahmanJoint Secretary (Supplies)Ministry of FoodGovt. of the People’s Republic of BangladeshEmail: [email protected]: +88-02-7165274Cell: +88-01711-824973; Fax +88-02-7165405

BHUTAN Mr. Karma NidupChief Executive OfficerFood Corporation of BhutanPhuntsholing, BhutanPhone: +975-17110895Email: [email protected]@icloud.com

INDIA Mr. S.R. PatnaikUnder Secretary, SAARC DivisionMinistry of External AffairsTel: +91-11-4901 8442, Fax: +91-11-4901 8439Mob: +91-9718 603 899Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

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MALDIVES Ms. Fathimath AshanSenior General ManagerFood Beverages & Regional salesState Trading Organization Plc.Cell : +960-7785711Tel : +960-3344333Fax: +960-3344041

Email: [email protected]

NEPAL Mr. Shiba Prasad MishraHead of the DepartmentNepal Food CorporationTel: +977-01-4248883, 4248891, Fax: +977-014262498Mobile: +977-9849245203Email: [email protected]

PAKISTAN Mr. Moazzam AliJoint Secretary,Ministry of National Food Security and ResearchTel: +92-51-9208376Fax: +92-51-9210616Email: [email protected]

SRI LANKA Ms. N. Nimalka DiasFood CommissionerFood Commissioner’s DepartmentUnion Place, Colombo 2Tel: +94-11-2327806; Cell: +94-71-4398301;Fax: +94-11-2434291

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Guidelines for Determination of Price of Foodgrains

The broad principles will be as follows, as indicated under Article IX (3) of the Agreement:

a. Price quoted, in general, shall be lower than prices generally charged orquoted for countries beyond the region;

b. Price shall be representative of the market, both domestic and international,and may be adjusted suitably to reflect seasonal variations and the pricemovements in the recent past; and

c. A responding Member Country shall endeavour to accord, as far as possible,national treatment in respect of calculating the cost components such as theones related to storage, internal freight, interests, insurance and overheadcharges, margin of losses etc., while maintaining its reserve and makingreleases.

Following guidelines should be followed to determine the price of food, as approvedby the First Food Bank Board Meeting (Colombo, 15 – 16 October 2008):

a. The method of deferred payment may be accepted, if requested;

b. The releasing Member State may take into account its quoted FoB price offood grain on the date of the request, as benchmark for negotiation with therequesting Member State(s), while applying the principles specified underArticle IX(3) of the Agreement;

c. The releasing Member State may exempt the released food grains of variousregulatory duties; and

d. In order to minimize cost and time of transportation for the requestingMember State, the releasing Member State would release the food grainfrom the storage facilities/godown(s) located closest to the requestingMember State.

The Fifth SAARC Food Bank Board further decided that “Article IX of theAgreement provides for guidelines for determination of prices. Any further discussionon the guidelines may be subject to negotiation between the concerned MemberStates and as per the humanitarian concerns enshrined in the relevant Article of theAgreement.”

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Assessed Shares of Foodgrains for the Food Bank

As per the recommendation of the Third SAARC Food Bank Board Meeting and asapproved by the Sixteenth SAARC Summit, the doubled quantum of the Reservesis as follows:

In Metric Tons

Country

Reserve

Remarks As per the

decision of the 1st Meeting held in Colombo, 2008

As per the decision of the 3rd Meeting held in

Kabul, 2009

Afghanistan 1,420 2,840 Bangladesh 40,000 80,000 Bhutan 180 360 India 1,53,200 3,06,400 Maldives 200 400 Nepal 4,000 8,000 Pakistan 40,000 80,000 Sri Lanka 4,000 8,000

Total 2,43,000 4,86,000

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Earmarked Shares of Foodgrains for the Food Bank1

1 As per the decision of the 3rd Meeting held in Kabul, 2009.

In Metric Tons

Country

Earmarked Shares

Remarks

Afghanistan 2,840 Bangladesh 80,000 Bhutan 360 India 3,06,400 Maldives 400 The 8th Food Bank Board Meeting

(Malé, 2-3 September 2015) decided that considering that the Member State is an importing country, the equivalent amount to the assessed share from its buffer stock would be considered as its contribution.

Nepal 8,000 Pakistan 40,000 Yet to be doubled Sri Lanka 8,000

Total 4,46,000

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Locations of the Godowns/Storage Facilities1

AFGHANISTAN

BANGLADESH

Godowns Reserved Quantity

MT Location details Rice Wheat Total

Moheshwar Pasha, Central Supply Depot (CSD), Khulna

10000 0 10000 Moheshwar Pasha Central Supply Depot (CSD) is situated in Khulna District, the southern-most district of Bangladesh. This CSD is connected by all modes of transportation; such as roads, railways and river routes railway, road and river. The CSD, located next to the river bank, is connected to the second sea-port of Bangladesh i.e. Mongla Port.

Chittagong Silo

0 15000 15000 Chittagong Silo is adjacent to the sea port. All modes of transportation facilities (railway, road and river) can be accessed. This silo is meant for storing wheat only.

1As per the inputs received from the Member States till 30 March 2016.

Storage Location

Reserved Quantity MT

Remarks

Wheat Rice Central silo 2840

Afghanistan has 3 reserves of corns located in the capital Kabul at center, northern province Balkh and western province Herat. It storages all the shares in Kabul silo near the highway (main road) that can transfer to all provinces. It is also planning to store about (1007 mt) in Balkh silo in the north 873 mt of which in Herat silo close to the border of western provinces.

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Dinajpur District

25000 0 25000 Dinajpur, in Northern Bangladesh, is one of the biggest rice producing areas, having a number of CSDs and Local Supply Depots (LSDs) in the district. The biggest storage facility in this district is Dinajpur CSD. Road and Rail communications connect the CSD with the rest of Bangladesh.

Bogra 30000 30000 Bogra District, located at central part, is the storage as well as production hub of the country, having storage facility of 1,64,250 mt. including one Multi-stored Modern Warehouse. The district is well connected by the rail and road and has access to both the sea ports of the country, viz, Chittagong and Mongla.

Total 65000 15000 80000

BHUTAN

INDIA

Location Reserved Quantity MT Remarks

Phuentsholing 130 Linked to Siliguri, Bongaigaon and Guwahati of India. Additional storage facility needs to be built.

Gelephu 100 Samdrupjongkhar 130

Name of the Region

Depot Wheat MT

Rice MT

Contact Points

Punjab PSWC Chheharta 10000 0 Area Manager, Food Corporation India (FCI), Amritsar, Ph. No. 0183-2226257 DGM (Movt.), FCI, RO, Chandigarh

PSD Bharaiwal 10000 12500 FSD Vallah 0 12500 FSD Majitha 10000 12500 FSD Bhagtanwala 10000 0 FSD Chabhal 10000 12500

Total 50000 50000

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Name of the Region

Depot Wheat MT

Rice MT

Contact Points

Haryana FSD Ambala Cantt 16000 0

Manager (Depot), FSD, Ambala, Mob: 01941-6191905 Ugada Bada 4000 0

FSD Ambala Cantt./ Ugada Bada

0 20000

Total 20000 20000 Rajasthan FSD Pokran 10000 0 Area Manager, Jodhpur

Mob: 0925469081 Manager (Depot) Mob: 09251469088

FSD Jodhpur 10000 0 Manager (Depot) Mob: 02912740748

Total 20000 0 Uttar Pradesh

FSD Gorakhpur 14000 16000 Area Manager, D.O. Gorakhpur Ph:0551-203769, 2334082, 9415432140 (M)

West Bengal

FSD Kalyani 10000 15000 1. Area Manager, District Office, NPD. 69, Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Kolkata-13 Contact No. 9433291537 (M), 033-22255625(Fax) 2. Area Manager, FCI Nutan Ganj, Bankura-722101 Contact No. 9732048890 (M), 03242-250301 (Fax) 3. Area Manager, FCI, FD, 27, Hyde Road Extn., Kolkata-88 Contact No. 9432573700 (M), 033-24394767 (Fax) 4. Area Manager, FCI, Rabindra Nagar, Siliguri-734401 Contact No. 9433315201 (M), 0353-2593754(Fax)

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MALDIVES

Name of the Region

Depot Wheat MT

Rice MT

Contact Points

Tamil Nadu Tuticorin MG Complex

0 20000 1. Area Manager, FCI District Office, No. 23-B, Beach Road, Tuticorin-628001, Ph: 0641-2301102 2. Area Manager, FCI District Office, No. 2, Sathyamurthy Salal, Chetput, Chennai-600031 PH: 044-28363296 3. Area Manager, FCI District Office, Immanuel Complex, No. 40, Thayumananavar Street, Thirunagar, Vellore-632006 Ph: 0416-2246725

FSD Avadi/Sevur 0 20000 FSD Sevur 0 16400 Total 56400

Grand Total

124000 182400

Total : 306400

Location Reserved Quantity MT Remarks

STO People's Choice Staple Foods Block # 393/ Handhuvaree Hngun, Maafannu, Malé

400

The 8th Food Bank Board Meeting (Malé, 2-3 September 2015) decided that considering the Member State is an importing country, the equivalent amount to the assessed share from its buffer stock would be considered as its contribution.

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SRI LANKA

NEPAL

PAKISTAN

Location Reserved Quantity MT Remarks

Pakpattan 7000 The reserves should be reviewed/doubled according to the decision of the 3rd SAARC Food Bank Board Meeting.

Okara 10000 Depalpur 1500 Burebala 7000 Gaggo 5500 Musa virk 9000

Total 40000

Location Reserved Quantity MT Remarks

Birtamod, Jhapa District 2000 Biratnagar, Morang District 2000 Birgunj, Parsh District 2000 Kathmandu 1000 Dhangadhi, Kailali District 1000 Total 8000

Veyangodo District Granary-Gampaha District, WesternProvince, Sri Lanka

Location Reserved QuantityMT

8000

Remarks

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Working Procedures ofthe SAARC Foodgrain Testing Reference Laboratory

Introduction:The Fourth Food Bank Board Meeting (Dhaka, 27 – 28 October 2010) feltthat to facilitate transaction of reserves among Member States, availabilityof food analysis facilities would be useful. Subsequently, the Sixth Food BankBoard Meeting (Thimphu, 25-26 November 2013) identified the CentralGrain Analysis Laboratory (CGAL) as the SAARC Foodgrain TestingReference Laboratory and directed the Secretariat to request India todesignate the CGAL to start with. At the Seventh Meeting of the Board (NewDelhi, 10-11 November 2014), India informed that it would share theprogramme details and CGAL working procedures among the Member States.Accordingly, the following information has been received and circulatedamong the Member States:

The Central Grains Analysis Laboratory (CGAL) was set up in Departmentof Agriculture in 1945 and housed in Jam Nagar House, New Delhi. Whenthe offices of the Ministry of Agriculture were shifted to Krishi Bhawan in1956, the CGAL was also relocated from Jam Nagar to Krishi Bhawan. In itsinitial phase the CGAL catered to the need of analyzing samples of foodgrainsmainly wheat and wheat flour, when Government used to allocate wheat fromthe Central Pool on a regular basis to Roller Flour Mills. Subsequently onseparation of the Department of Food from the Ministry of Agriculture, theCGAL continued functioning under the Department of Food.Earlier foodgrain samples of the imported consignments from air mail andsamples from flour Mills, Citizen Central Council, Central CooperativeSocieties, procurement centres under complaints, Quality Control Cells andother sources of the Department used to come for quality analysis to theCGAL. With change in mandate and functions of the Department of Foodand Public Distribution, work of the CGAL has expanded.

Main Functions:The CGAL presently carries out the following functions:

(i) Assessment of quality analysis of the samples of Central Poolfoodgrains brought by Quality Control Officers of the Departmentfrom procurement centres, food storage depots, fair price shops

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etc. besides foodgrains samples collected from grain Mandies forquality assessment.

(ii) Formulation of uniform specifications of quality of foodgrainsfor their procurement under the Minimum Support Price (MSP)operations based on the analysis of foodgrain samples.

(iii) Classification of paddy or rice varieties received from StateGovernments as grade ‘A’ and ‘Common’ varieties.

(iv) Assessment of quality of imported and or exported foodgrains onGovernment account vis-à-vis contractual specifications as andwhen required.

(v) Assessment of the Quality of foodgrain samples collected by Jointteams from the affected areas on the request of State Government/UT Administrations for consideration of relaxations in uniformspecifications.

Quality Tests done in Central Grain Analysis Laboratory:Physical analysis of foodgrains (wheat, paddy, rice, coarse grains) vizMoisture content. Length-breadth ratio for classification of paddy/ricevarieties, Gluten, protein content and determination of falling number in wheatand wheat products (atta & maida) and protein & dehusked grain in rice andmilling of paddy to ascertain the quality of rice is done in Central GrainAnalysis Laboratory.

Capacity of CGAL to analyse foodgrain samples:The CGAL has capacity to analyse samples for physical parameterscomprising tests for determination of moisture content, segregation ofrefractions like foreign matter, other food grains, damaged grains, pin pointdamaged, karnal bunt, slightly damaged grains, discolored grains, chalkygrains, red grains, admixture of lower class, weevilled grains, 1000 kernelweight, Hectolitre weight, de-husked grains, shrivelled and broken grains,immature grains, shrunken grains etc. as per the requirement of the differentcommodities (Paddy, Rice, Wheat, coarse grain) and classification of paddy/rice varieties. Besides physical analysis, facilities are available at the CGALfor chemical tests such as protein estimation, gluten (dry & wet) and fallingnumber in wheat.

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Intake of samples in CGAL:A representative sample of One Kg. from the foodgrain stocks from theSAARC Food Bank is required for Physical-chemical analysis. Sealed samplewith separate packaging of at least 100gm grain in moisture proof polythenebag is required for determination of moisture content. A sample slip detailingaddress of the Storage Depot/Agency under the SAARC Food Bank, cropyear, period of storage and preservation treatment given to the Commodityduring storage, if any, and testing parameters required should be attachedboth inside and outside the bag containing samples.

Analysis of samples at CGAL:Charges of analysis/testing of foodgrains samples from the SAARC FoodBank for basic tests are as under:

Wheat:

i) Physical Parameters (Foreign Mattar, Other foodgrains, Damagedgrains, Slightly damaged grains, Shrivelled and Broken Grains,Weevilled Grains and Moisture content).

ii) Chemical Parameters (Protein, Dry Gluten, Wet Gluten, Uric Acid,Free Fat Acidity, Total Ash and Acid insoluble Ash).

Rice:

i) Physical Parameters (foreign Matter, Other foodgrains, Damagedgrains/Slightly damaged grains, Discoloured grains, Chalky Grains,Red Grains, Admixture of lower class, De-husked grains and Moisturecontent).

ii) Chemical parameters (Protein, Uric Acid, Free fat Acidity, Total Ashand Acid insoluble Ash).

Charges:INRs. 3500/- per sample. Service Tax extra as applicable.

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Other Conditions:

Turnaround time:5 to 7 working days from the date of receipt of samples. For special testssuch as Classification of paddy varieties, Hardness index of individual kernel,individual kernel weights, diameters of wheat grains with Single KernelCharacterizations System (SKCS) – 4100, separate communication will berequired and rates will be informed accordingly. Payment is to be made throughDD/NEFT in the name of DDO, Department of Food & Public Distribution,Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.

Address for Communication:The Joint Commissioner (Storage & Research)Government of IndiaMinistry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public DistributionDepartment of Food & Public DistributionRoom No. 186, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi- 110001Tel/Fax : +91-11-23389625Email: [email protected]: http://dfpd.nic.in; http://dfpd.nic.in/cgal.htm

************

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Annex-IAgreement on establishisng the SAARC Food Security

Reserve

PreambleThe Governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal,

Pakistan and Sri Lanka;

Recalling the Declaration on South Asian Regional Cooperation signed inNew Delhi in August 1983, which called for cooperative action with a view topromoting economic and social development in South Asia;

Reaffirming their commitment to the realization of this objective by joiningtogether in the establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperationand adopting a Charter in Dhaka in December 1985;

Recognizing the importance of regional and sub-regional collective self-reliance with respect to food security as a means of combating the adverse effect ofnatural and man-made calamities;

Recognizing further that the establishment of an emergency food securityreserve by Member Countries of the South Asian Association for RegionalCooperation based on the principle of collective self-reliance would improve theirfood security;

NOW THEREFORE, in a spirit of solidarity and mutual cooperation, haveagreed as follows:

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Article IEstablishment of the SAARC Food Security Reserve

1. The Member Countries hereby agree to establish a SAARC Food SecurityReserve (hereinafter referred to as “the Reserve”) on the conditions and for thepurpose described in this Agreement.

2. The Reserve shall be administered by the SAARC Food Security ReserveBoard (hereinafter referred to as “the Board”) provided for in Article VII.

Article IIThe Reserve

1. The Reserve shall consist of wheat or rice or a combination thereof,(hereinafter referred to as “foodgrains”) earmarked by the Member Countriesexclusively for the purpose described in Article III.

The foodgrains forming part of the Reserve shall remain the property of theMember Country that has earmarked them and shall be in addition to any nationalreserve that may be maintained by that Member Country.

2. Each Member Country undertakes to earmark as its share of the Reservethe amount of foodgrains allocated to it in the Schedule of this Agreement. The saidSchedule shall be an integral part of this Agreement.

3. The Member Countries shall keep the Schedule under review and may amendit in the light of operating experience in accordance with the procedure laid down inArticle XI.

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4. A Member Country may, at any time, voluntarily earmark for the purposeprovided for in this Agreement, foodgrains exceeding the amount allocated to it inthe Schedule. In such a case the Member Country concerned may only withdrawthe amount in excess of its allocation by giving six months’ advance written noticeto the Board.

5. The quality of all foodgrains earmarked by the Member Countries shall beat least of “fair average quality”, or comply with any other quality standards laiddown by the Board.

6. The Member Countries undertake to provide adequate storage facilities forthe foodgrains that they have earmarked; to inspect the food grains periodically andto apply appropriate quality control measures, including turnover of the foodgrains,if necessary, with a view to ensuring that all times the foodgrains satisfy the requiredquality standards; and to replace forthwith any foodgrains that do not satisfy thesaid standards. In addition, the Member Countries agree to make every effort tocomply with any guidelines on storage methods or quality control measures adoptedby the Board.

Article IIIWithdrawal of Foodgrains in an Emergency

Each Member Country shall be entitled, on the conditions and in accordancewith the procedures laid down in Article IV and/or Article VI, to draw on foodgrainsforming part of the Reserve in the event of an emergency. An emergency shall meana state or condition in which a Member Country, having suffered a severe andunexpected natural or man-made calamity, is unable to cope with such a state orcondition by using its national reserve and is unable to procure the foodgrains itrequires through normal trading transactions on account of balance of paymentsconstraints.

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Article IVProcedure for the Release of Foodgrains from the Reserve

1. The Member Country in need shall directly notify the other Member Countryor countries of the emergency it is facing and the amount of foodgrains required.

2. The other Member Country or countries on being so requested shall takeimmediate steps to make necessary arrangements to ensure immediate and speedyrelease of the required foodgrains, subject to availability in the combination requested.

3. The prices, terms and conditions of payment in kind or otherwise in respectof the foodgrains so released shall be the subject of direct negotiations between theMember Countries concerned.

4. The requesting Member Country shall at the same time inform the Board ofits request to the other Member Country or countries.

Article VReplenishment of the Reserve

1. A Member Country that has released all or part of the foodgrains formingits share of the Reserve shall replace such foodgrains as soon as practicable and, inany event, not later than one calendar year following the date on which the releaseof the foodgrains took place.

2. A Member Country that has released all or part of the foodgrains formingits share of the Reserve shall notify the Board of such release, of the terms andconditions on which it was effected, and the date on which the foodgrains that hadbeen released were replaced.

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Article VIProcedure for the Withdrawal of Foodgrains by a Member Country from its

Own Share of the Reserve

1. A Member Country in need shall be entitled to withdraw foodgrains fromits own share of the Reserve.

2. In doing so it shall inform the Member Countries and the Board of suchwithdrawal.

3. It shall replace such foodgrains as soon as practicable and in any event notlater than two calendar years following the date on which the release of the foodgrainstook place.

Article VIIThe SAARC Food Security Board

1. There shall be a Board of which each Member Country shall be a member.

2. Decisions of the Board shall be taken on the basis of unanimity.

3. The Board shall elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman based on the principleof rotation among Member Countries whose terms of office shall be two years.Rules of Procedure for the meetings of the Board shall be the same as for otherSAARC meetings.

4. The Board shall meet at least once a year.

5. The Board shall normally meet at the same place and time as the StandingCommittee, preceding the annual Summit.

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Article VIIIFunctions of the Board

The functions of the Board shall include:1. Undertaking a periodic review and assessment of the food situation andprospects in the region including factors such as production, consumption, trade,prices, quality and stocks of foodgrains. These periodic assessment reports shall bedisseminated to all the Member Countries.

2. Examining immediate, short term and long term policy actions as may beconsidered necessary to ensure adequate supplies of basic food commodities in theregion and to submit, on the basis of such examination, recommendations forappropriate action to the Council of Ministers.

3. Reviewing implementation of the provisions of the agreement, calling forsuch information from Member Countries as may be necessary for the effectiveadministration of the Reserve ad issuing of guidelines of technical matters such asmaintenance of stocks, storage conditions and quality control.

4. Keeping the Schedule to this Agreement under review.

5. Suggesting amendment to the Agreement, as and when considered necessary,in accordance with the procedure specified in Article XI.

Article IXSecretariat

The Board shall be assisted by the SAARC Secretariat. The Secretariat’sresponsibilities shall include monitoring all matters relating to the release offoodgrains from the Reserve and convening and servicing meetings of the Board.

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Article XEntry into Force

This Agreement shall enter into force on a date to be determined by theCouncil of Ministers provided that the Member Countries have collectivelyearmarked at least one hundred and twenty-five thousand metric tons of foodgrainson that date for the purpose of this Agreement.

Article XIAmendment

1. A Member Country may propose any amendment to this Agreement bysubmitting the proposed amendment to the Board through SAARC Secretariat.

2. The Board may enclose the proposed amendment and submit it to the Councilof Ministers for approval. Unless otherwise specifies, amendments shall enter intoforce as from the date of their approval by the Council of Ministers.

Article XIIDepositary

1. An original of this Agreement shall be deposited in the SAARC Secretariat.

2. The Secretary-General shall be the depositary of this Agreement andamendments thereto.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned plenipotentiaries being dulyauthorized thereto have signed this Agreement.

SIGNED at Kathmandu on the Fourth Day of November One ThousandNine Hundred and Eighty Seven in Eight originals in the English language.

A. C. SHAHUL HAMEEDMinister of Foreign Affairs

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

HUMAYUN RASHEED CHOUDHURYMinister of Foreign Affairs

People’s Republic of Bangladesh

K. NATWAR SINGHMinister of State for External Affairs

Republic of India

SHAILENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYAMinister for Foreign Affairs & Land Reforms

His Majesty’s Government of Nepal

DAWA TSERINGMinister of Foreign Affairs

Kingdom of Bhutan

FATHULLA JAMEEL Minister of Foreign Affairs

Republic of Maldives

ZAIN NOORANIMinister of State for Foreign Affairs

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

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SCHEDULE

SAARC FOOD SECURITY RESERVE

(Position of the Reserve as on 1 January 2002)

In Metric Tons

Bangladesh 40,000Bhutan 180India 1,53,200Maldives 200Nepal 4,000Pakistan 40,000Sri Lanka 4,000

Total 2,41,580

Country Share of the Reserve

In Metric Tons

Bangladesh 21,000Bhutan 180India 1,53,200Maldives 20Nepal 3,600Pakistan 19,000Sri Lanka 2,800

Total 1,99,800

Country Share of the Reserve

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ADDENDUMAmendment to Article III of the Agreement

The SAARC Council of Ministers at its Twenty-second Session held inKathmandu, Nepal, on 2-3 January 2002, approved the amendment to Article III ofthe Agreement on Establishing the SAARC Food Security Reserve with immediateeffect.

The amended Article now reads as follows:

Article IIIWithdrawal of Foodgrains in an Emergency

Each Member Country shall be entitled, on the conditions and in accordancewith the procedures laid down in Article IV and/or Article VI, to draw on foodgrainsforming part of the Reserve in the event of an emergency. An emergency shall meana state or condition in which a Member Country, having suffered a severe andunexpected natural or man-made calamity, is unable to cope with such a state orcondition by using its national reserve.

__________________________

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Annex-IIAGREEMENT ON ESTABLISHING

THE SAARC FOOD BANK

PREAMBLE

The Governments of the SAARC (South Asian Association for RegionalCooperation) Member States comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka hereinafter referred to as “MemberCountries”;

Recalling the Declaration on South Asian Regional Cooperation signed inNew Delhi in August 1983, which called for cooperative action with a view topromoting economic and social development in South Asia;

Reaffirming their commitment to the realization of this objective by joiningtogether in the establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperationand adopting a Charter in Dhaka in December 1985;

Recognizing the importance of regional and sub-regional collective self-reliance with respect to food security as a means of combating the adverse effect ofnatural and man-made calamities;

Recognizing further that the establishment of a regional food reserve byMember Countries based on the principle of collective self-reliance would improvetheir food security;

NOW THEREFORE, in a spirit of solidarity and mutual cooperation, haveagreed as follows:

ARTICLE IEstablishment of the SAARC Food Bank

1. The Member Countries hereby agree to establish a SAARC Food Bank(hereinafter referred to as “the Food Bank”) for the purposes and on the conditionsdescribed in this Agreement.

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2. The Food Bank shall be administered by the SAARC Food Bank Board(hereinafter referred to as “the Board”), as provided for in Article X.

ARTICLE IIObjectives

The objectives of the Food Bank shall be:

a. to act as a regional food security reserve for the SAARC Member Countriesduring normal time food shortages and emergencies; and

b. to provide regional support to national food security efforts; foster inter-country partnerships and regional integration, and solve regional foodshortages through collective action.

ARTICLE IIIThe Reserve

1. The Reserve, to be maintained under the Food Bank (hereinafter referred toas “the Reserve”), shall consist of wheat or rice or a combination thereof (hereinafterreferred to as “food grains”) earmarked by the Member Countries exclusively forthe purpose described in Article V.

2. The Reserve shall remain the property of the Member Country that hasearmarked it and shall be in addition to any national reserve that may be maintainedby that Member Country.

3. Each Member Country undertakes to earmark as its assessed share of theReserve the amount of food grains allocated to it in the Schedule-I of this Agreementand to keep the Board informed of the quantum of its reserve with locations of thedesignated godowns.

4. The Member Countries shall keep the Schedule-I under review and mayamend it in the light of operating experience in accordance with the procedure laiddown in Article XV.

5. A Member Country may, at any time, voluntarily earmark for the purposeprovided for in this Agreement food grains exceeding the amount allocated to it inthe Schedule-I.

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ARTICLE IVQuality of the Reserve

1. The quality of all earmarked food grains shall be of “fair average quality”,or comply with any other quality standards laid down by the Board. Each MemberCountry undertakes to maintain its reserve as per specifications in the Schedule-IIof this Agreement. The Board shall review the specifications periodically.

2. Each Member Country undertakes to: (a) provide adequate storage facilitiesfor the food grains that it has earmarked; (b) inspect the food grains periodically;(c) apply appropriate quality control measures, including turnover of the food grains,if necessary, with a view to ensuring that all times the food grains satisfy the requiredquality standards; and (d) replace forthwith any food grains that do not satisfy thesaid standards. In addition, each Member Country agrees to undertake every effortto comply with any guidelines on storage methods or quality control measuresadopted by the Board.

ARTICLE VWithdrawal of Foodgrains

1. Each Member Country shall be entitled, on the conditions and in accordancewith the procedures laid down in Article III, Article VI and/or Article VIII, to drawon food grains forming part of the Reserve in the event of a food emergency and/orshortage.

2. A food emergency shall mean a state or condition in which a MemberCountry, having suffered a severe and unexpected natural or man made calamity, isunable to cope with such a state of condition by using its national reserve.

3. A food shortage shall mean a state or condition in which a Member Countryhas suffered a production shortfall and /or storage shortfall, and finds it difficult tocope with such a state or condition by using its national reserve, provided that theproduction of food grains in the current year is lower than the average of theproduction of the previous three years by 8 percent. However, on specific cases aMember Country may initiate a request on seasonal basis considering the impact ofsuch seasonal shortfall on annual production.

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4. The Board, based on the experiences of operations of the Food Bank, shallperiodically review the minimum agreed percentage of shortfall as mentioned inParagraph 3 of this Article.

ARTICLE VIProcedure for the Release of Foodgrains from the Reserve

1. The Member Country in need shall directly notify, through its designatedNodal Point(s), the other Member Country or countries of the food emergency orshortage it is facing and the amount of foodgrains required.

2. The other Member Country or countries on being so requested shall takeimmediate steps to make necessary arrangements to ensure immediate and speedyrelease of the required food grains, subject to availability in the combinationrequested.

3. The requesting Member Country shall at the same time inform the Board ofits request to the other Member Country or countries to coordinate.

ARTICLE VIIReplenishment of the Reserve

1. A Member Country that has released all or part of the food grains formingits share of the Reserve shall replace such foodgrains as soon as practicable and, inany event, not later than one calendar year following the date on which the releaseof the food grains took place.

2. A Member Country that has released all or part of the food grains formingits share of the Reserve shall at an early date notify the Board of such release, of theterms and conditions on which it was effected, and the date on which the foodgrains that had been released were replaced.

ARTICLE VIIIProcedure for the Withdrawal of Foodgrains by a Member Country

from its Own Share of the Reserve

1. A Member Country in need shall be entitled to immediate withdrawal offood grains from its assessed reserve in case of emergencies under intimation to the

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Member Countries and the Board, and in any other cases by giving three months’advance notice to the Member Countries and the Board of such withdrawal.

2. It shall replace such foodgrains as soon as practicable and in any event notlater than two years following the date on which the release of the food grains tookplace.

3. A Member Country in need shall be entitled to immediate withdrawal offoodgrains from its voluntary reserve in case of emergencies under intimation to theMember Countries and the Board, and in other cases by giving at least one month’sadvance written notice to the Member Countries and the Board.

ARTICLE IXDetermination of Price

1. The prices, terms and conditions of payment, in kind or otherwise, in respectof the foodgrains so released shall be the subject of direct negotiations between theMember Countries concerned, based on the guidelines to be approved by the Boardfor determination of price, which shall be reviewed periodically.

2. The requesting Member Country shall specify the need (i.e. food shortageor emergency) while making the request. In the case of emergency, the humanitarianaspects would be given due importance while determining prices.

3. The determination of prices shall be done in accordance with the followingbroad principles:

a. Price quoted, in general, shall be lower than prices generally charged orquoted for countries beyond the region;

b. Price shall be representative of the market, both domestic and international,and may be adjusted suitably to reflect seasonal variations and the pricemovements in the recent past; and

c. A responding Member Country shall endeavour to accord, as far as possible,national treatment in respect of calculating the cost components such as theones related to storage, internal freight, interests, insurance and overheadcharges, margin of losses etc., while maintaining its reserve and makingreleases.

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ARTICLE XInstitutional Arrangements

1. There shall be a Board, of which each Member Country shall be a member,to administer functioning of the Food Bank and for its policy making.

2. Rules of Procedure for the meetings of the Board shall be the same as forother SAARC meetings.

3. Decisions and recommendations of the Board shall be taken on the basis ofunanimity.

4. The Board shall elect a Chairperson based on the principle of rotation amongMember Countries whose terms of office shall be the duration from one annualmeeting to the next annual meeting.

5. The Board shall meet at least once a year or more often as considerednecessary.

6. Each Member country shall designate Nodal Point(s), responsible fortransacting all business at the national level related to operations of the Food Bank.

7. Private sector importer(s) in a Member Country in need may apply to thedesignated Nodal Point(s) of that country, who shall transact all activities on behalfof the private sector importer(s) and shall be responsible for the transaction(s). TheMember Countries may develop appropriate guidelines for involving the privatesector, in conformity with its national legislations, procedures and requirements.

ARTICLE XIFunctions of the Board

The functions of the Board shall include:

1. Undertaking a periodic review and assessment of the food situation andprospects in the region, including factors, such as production, consumption, trade,prices, quality and stocks of foodgrains. These periodic assessment reports shall bedisseminated to all the Member Countries.

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2. Examining immediate, short term and long term policy actions as may beconsidered necessary to ensure adequate supplies of food grains in the region and tosubmit, on the basis of such examination, recommendations for appropriate actionto the Council of Ministers.

3. Reviewing implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, calling forsuch information from Member Countries as may be necessary for the effectiveadministration of the Food Bank and issuing of guidelines on technical matters,such as maintenance of stocks, storage conditions, quality control and price.

4. Assessing the demands of foodgrains and identification of institutions andorganizations in Member Countries that are to be contacted in case of release andwithdrawal from its Reserves.

5. Devising appropriate mechanism(s) to collect, compile, generate, analyse,and disseminate information to facilitate its own work.

6. Resolving any dispute or difference regarding the interpretation andapplication of the provisions of this Agreement and functioning of the Food Bank.

7. Keeping the Schedules to this Agreement under review.

8. Recommending amendment(s) to the Agreement, as and when considerednecessary, in accordance with the procedure specified in Article XV.

ARTICLE XIIMiscellaneous

1. Schedule-I and Schedule-II shall be integral parts of this Agreement.

2. Expenditures relating to the functioning of the Food Bank shall be borne bythe Member Countries proportionately as part of the SAARC Secretariat budget.

ARTICLE XIIISecretariat

1. The Board shall be assisted by the SAARC Secretariat, which shallcoordinate the work of the Board, monitor all matters relating to the release of food-grains, and convene and service meetings of the Board.

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2. The establishment of a Permanent Headquarters of the Food Bank withdedicated staff may be considered by the Council of Ministers at a future date, inthe event of such a request made by the Board based on the experiences of operationsof the Food Bank.

ARTICLE XIVEntry into Force

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on a date to be determined by theCouncil of Ministers upon completion of all requisite formalities, includingratification by all the Member Countries and issuance of a notification thereof bythe Secretary General of SAARC.

2. This Agreement shall supersede the Agreement on Establishing the SAARCFood Security Reserve.

ARTICLE XVAmendment

1. A Member Country may propose any amendment to this Agreement bysubmitting the proposed amendment to the Board through the SAARC Secretariat.

2. The Board may examine the proposed amendment and submit itsrecommendation(s) to the Council of Ministers for consideration. Unless otherwisespecified, amendments shall enter into force as from the date of their approval bythe Council of Ministers.

ARTICLE XVIDepositary

1. The Secretary General of SAARC shall be the depositary of this Agreementand amendments thereto.

2. An original of this Agreement shall be deposited with the Secretary Generalof SAARC.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned being duly authorized theretoby their respective Governments have signed this Agreement.

SIGNED at New Delhi on the Fourth Day of April Two Thousand andSeven in Nine originals in the English language.

Rangin Dadfar SpantaMinister of Foreign Affairs

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Iftekhar Ahmed ChowdhuryAdviser for Foreign Affairs

(Foreign Minister)People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Ugyen TsheringMinister for Labour and Human Resources

Kingdom of Bhutan

Pranab MukherjeeMinister for External Affairs

Republic of India

Ahmed ShaheedMinister of Foreign Affairs

Republic of Maldives

Sahana PradhanMinister for Foreign Affairs

Nepal

Khurshid M. KasuriMinister for Foreign AffairsIslamic Republic of Pakistan

Rohitha BogollagamaMinister of Foreign Affairs

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

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SCHEDULE-I

SAARC FOOD BANKAssessed Shares of Foodgrains for the Reserve

.

Afghanistan ———*Bangladesh 40,000Bhutan 180India 1,53,200Maldives 200Nepal 4,000Pakistan 40,000Sri Lanka 4,000

Total 2,41,580

In Metric Tons

ComprehensiveAssessed Shares and Reassessed Shares of Foodgrains for the Reserve

Assessed share of Afghanistan was to be decided by the First Meeting of the SAARCFood Board and reflected accordingly in this Schedule

S. No. Country

Reserve As per the decision of

the 1st Meeting in Colombo, 2008

As per the decision of the 3rd Meeting in Kabul,

2009 1. Afghanistan 1,420 2,840 2. Bangladesh 40,000 80,000 3. Bhutan 180 360 4. India 1,53,200 3,06,400 5. Maldives 200 400 6. Nepal 4,000 8,000 7. Pakistán 40,000 80,000 8. Sri Lanka 4,000 8,000

Total 2,43,000 4,86,000

In Metric Tons

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SCHEDULE-II

SAARC FOOD BANK

Specifications1 of Foodgrains (wheat and rice)

Wheat

1 Definitions are contained at the Annex.

Quality Grade Factors Grade II FAQ*

Recommended specifications

Moisture content, % (maximum) 9.0 - 10.0 13.5 Test weight Kg/Hecto-Litre (minimum)

74.1 - 75 75.0

Foreign matter, % (maximum) 0.5 - 1.0 1.0 Broken and shriveled, % (maximum)

2.0 - 3.0 7.0

Other food grains, % (maximum) 1.5 - 3.0 3.0 Damaged grains, % (maximum)

0.5 - 1.0 2.0

Gluten (wet), % (minimum)

26 - 27 26.0

Protein, % (minimum) 10.0 - 11.0 10.0 *Fair Average Quality

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Quality Grade Factors

Grade II for Coarse Rice

Recommendation (for par-boiled rice)

Recommendation (for non-parboiled rice)

Moisture content, % (maximum)

14.0 14.0 14.0

Damaged shriveled and yellow, % (maximum)

2.5 4.0 3.0

Broken grains, % (maximum)

10.0 16.0 25.0

Chalky grains, % (maximum)

6.0 Not applicable 6.0

Foreign matter, % (maximum)

0.8 0.8 0.8

Paddy grains, % (maximum)

0.4 0.4 0.4

Red stripped grains, % (maximum)

2.5 3.0 3.0

Under-milled (de-husked), % (maximum)

- 12.0 12.0

Rice

__________

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ANNEX

Definitions of Refractions for Raw and Parboiled Rice

Foreign MatterIncludes organic and inorganic matters. The inorganic matter shall include sand,gravel, dirt, pebbles, stones, lumps of earth, clay and mud, glass and metallicpieces. The organic matter shall include chaff, weed seeds, straw and inedible grains.

Brokensa. Small Broken

Pieces of kernels that are broken up to one fourth of the size of full kernel.b. Big Broken

Pieces of kernels that are broken above one fourth of the size and less thanthree fourth of the size of the full kernel.

Slightly damaged grainsKernels or pieces of kernels that are damaged or discoloured superficially so asnot to affect the quality of the material.

Damaged grainsKernels or pieces of kernels that are sprouted or internally damaged as a resultof heat, microbes, moisture or weather.

De-husked grain (under-milled grains)Shall be the rice kernels, whole or broken, which have more than one fourth ofthe surface covered with bran.

Chalky grainsKernels or pieces of kernel of which at least half the portion is opaque, milkywhite colour and brittle in nature.

Discoloured grainKernels or pieces of kernels that have changed the colour as a result of deteriorativechanges.

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Red grainKernels or pieces of kernel having more than one fourth of the surface coveredwith red cuticle.

Degree of millingThe reasonably well milled means milling of paddy from which the husk, thegerm, the outer bran layers and the greater part of the inner bran layers havebeen removed, part of the lengthwise streaks of the bran layers may still bepresent on not more than 30 percent of the kernels.

Definitions of Refractions for Wheat

Foreign MatterIncludes organic and inorganic matters. The inorganic matter shall include sand,gravel, dirt, pebbles, stones, lumps of earth, clay and mud, glass and metallicpieces. The organic matter shall include chaff, weed seeds, straw and inediblegrains.

Shrivelled GrainsKernels or pieces of kernels that are not fully developed.

BrokensPieces of kernels that are less than three fourth of the size of full kernel.

Weevilled grainsKernels that are partially or wholly bored.

Slightly damaged grainsKernels or pieces of kernels that are damaged or discoloured superficially so asnot to affect the quality of the material.

Damaged grainsKernels or pieces of kernels that are sprouted or internally damaged as a result ofheat, microbes, moisture or weather.

Other FoodgrainsAny foodgrains other than wheat.

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Annex-IIISAARC Food Security Reserve Board Meetings

1. First Meeting Islamabad 24 December 19882. Second Meeting Malé 15 November 19993. Special Meeting Paro, Bhutan 1-2 October 19914. Third Meeting Colombo 2-3 November 19915. Fourth Meeting Dhaka 7 December 19926. Fifth Meeting New Delhi 27 April 19957. Sixth Meeting Malé 8 May 19978. Seventh Meeting Colombo 25 July 19989. Eighth Meeting Kathmandu 10-11 April 200110. Ninth Meeting Islamabad 17-18 December 200211. Tenth Meeting Dhaka 6-7 October 2004

S.No. Meetings Venue Date

1. First Meeting Colombo 15-16 October 20082. Second Meeting Colombo 12-13 February 20093. Third Meeting Kabul 8-9 November 20094. Fourth Meeting Dhaka 27-28 October 20105. Fifth (Special) Meeting Dhaka 13 May 20126. Sixth Meeting Thimphu 25-26 November 20137. Seventh Meeting New Delhi 10-11 November 20148. Eighth Meeting Malé 2-3 September 20159. Ninth Meeting Nepal 2016 (To be held)

S.No. Meetings Venue Date

SAARC Food Bank Board Meetings

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Published by:

Agriculture and Rural Development DivisionSAARC SecretariatP. O. Box No. 4222Kathmandu, NepalTel: +977-1-4221785, 4226350Fax: +977-1-4227033, 4223991Email: [email protected]: http://www.saarc-sec.org

SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu

First printed: March 2016