Context:
Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management (FARM) Programme launched
FARM Programme:
- FARM Programme – A global initiative to realign financial incentives to prevent the use of harmful inputs in food production and encourage the adoption of low and non-chemical alternatives.
- Funded by – Global Environment Facility
- Objectives –
- To support government regulation to phase out persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
- To strengthen banking system to improve the availability of effective pest control and trade in sustainable produce.
- Members – India, Ecuador, Kenya, Lao PDR, Philippines, Uruguay and Vietnam.
- Led by – United Nations Environment Program
- Implemented by – Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Program and UNIDO with execution carried out in-country by FAO.
Global Environment Facility:
- GEF – Multilateral fund dedicated to confronting biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and strains on land and ocean health.
- Established in – 1992 Rio Earth Summit
- Head Quarters – Washington DC (US)
- Members – 185 countries (including India)
- Trustee – World Bank
- Conventions covered –
- Minamata Convention on Mercury
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Source: UNEP
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) Bretton Woods Conference
(b) Montreal Protocol
(c) Kyoto Protocol
(d) Nagoya Protocol
Answer: (b)
