22 April 1999
TEXT: USAID PRESS RELEASE ON NORTH KOREA POTATO PROJECT
(Project is first bilateral U.S. assistance to N. Korea) (700) Washington -- The United States and North Korea have reached an agreement on a potato production project in North Korea, according to an April 22 press release from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). "The potato project responds to the continuing humanitarian need for food in North Korea," the press release reads. "Based on a range of analyses, the United States believes the shortfall in food production in North Korea this crop year is approximately 1.5 million metric tons below minimum food needs." According to the USAID, the potato project represents the first bilateral U.S. assistance to North Korea and will involve the first U.S. government-donated food channeled directly through U.S. private voluntary organizations (PVOs) rather than through the World Food Program (WFP). Specific provisions of the project agreement include an enhanced monitoring regime for food-for-work projects, a substantial distribution of food in the northeastern part of the country, and a direct working relationship with North Korean agricultural experts, the USAID press release says. Seed potatoes from China will be planted in Kangwon province in the southeast, and variety trials with U.S. seed potatoes will be conducted in the northeast and western provinces. Following is the text of the news release: (begin text) USAID Press Release April 22, 1999 AGREEMENT REACHED ON BILATERAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT FOR NORTH KOREA Washington, DC -- A team of officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the State Department, and Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) reached an agreement with North Korean officials on April 17, 1999 on the details of a potato production project in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). This project represents the first bilateral U.S. assistance to the DPRK. It was announced in mid-March in conjunction with an agreement regarding access to the Kumchang-ni suspect underground facility in North Korea. At that time, U.S. officials noted that the Kumchang-ni agreement cleared the way for a modest step forward in bilateral relations represented by this assistance project. The potato project responds to the continuing humanitarian need for food in North Korea. Based on a range of analyses, the United States believes the shortfall in food production in North Korea this crop year is approximately 1.5 million metric tons below minimum food needs. To increase potato production, the project will import 1,000 tons of seed potatoes of several varieties for planting and 100,000 tons of commodity food assistance to be used for food-for-work projects to support potato production. A consortium of U.S. PVOs will provide expertise, design and manage the project, and purchase the potato inputs. These PVOs include: Adventist Development and Relief, Amigos Internacionales, the Carter Center, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Church World Service, Korean American Sharing Movement and Mercy Corps International. The U.S. government will provide the food assistance. This will be the first U.S. government-donated food channeled directly through U.S. PVOs rather than through the World Food Program (WFP). The U.S. PVOs will monitor the distribution of food under this program, and will contract with WFP for logistical support. As with all food assistance from the United States, the commodities will be carefully monitored to assure they reach the civilian population for whom they are intended. Specific provisions of the project agreement include an enhanced monitoring regime for food-for-work projects, a substantial distribution of food in the needy northeastern part of the DPRK, and a direct working relationship with North Korean agricultural experts. Seed potatoes from China will be planted in Kangwon province in the southeast, and variety trials with U.S. seed potatoes will be conducted in the northeast and western provinces. The PVO consortium is currently in the process of procuring and shipping seed potatoes, and will have staff on the ground in the DPRK shortly to manage the program once the seeds arrive. The first shipment of US assistance for food-for-work projects, which will include corn and rice, is expected to arrive in the DPRK in late May. Additional food shipments will continue through March of next year. (end text)
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