APRC/02/1

13 – 15 May 2002

1. Opening of the Senior Officers Meeting

2. Election of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Rapporteur

3. Adoption of Agenda and Timetable

4. Sustainable Mountain Development in Asia and the Pacific

The UN General Assembly, in designating 2002 as the International Year of the Mountains (IYM) intended to launch comprehensive and integrated action for sustainable mountain development. It assigned FAO as the Lead Agency within the UN system to coordinate activities related to the IYM. This development has presented the Organization with the opportunity to contribute its wide-ranging expertise in forestry, agriculture, watershed management, biodiversity conservation and others towards improved food security through sustainable mountain development. This item will seek to assess the situation and prospects, identify problems and issues and suggest ways and means to build awareness, mobilize resources and implement concerted action plans for sustainable mountain development.

5. Livestock and Fisheries Development for Household Food and Nutrition Security and Poverty Alleviation in Asia and the Pacific

In the Asia-Pacific Region, the poor households are concentrated in small farm and landless laboring communities. To these food-insecure and vulnerable households, livestock and fish resources represent major sources of food and income; sometimes a way for risk diversification; and often a means for asset accumulation. At the same time, meat, dairy products and fish supplies at affordable prices are essential for the nutritional well being of the poor especially their children and pregnant and nursing mothers. But far-reaching changes are taking place in the livestock and fisheries sectors. Accelerating consumption, increasing pressure on the common pool of resources, commercialization, geographic shift of production to fragile areas, and increasing dependence on cereal-based feed are some of the more significant trends. These revolutionary changes must be mitigated or harnessed for the benefit of the small and subsistence-oriented farmers, poor aquatic resource users and the vulnerable consumers. This item will highlight major trends in small-scale livestock and aquaculture and aquatic resource development, review current policies and programmes and identify elements of a strategy to enhance the sectors’ contributions for household food and nutrition security and poverty alleviation.

6. Empowering the Rural Poor in Asia and the Pacific

Three fourths of the Region’s hungry and poor live in rural areas. They depend on agriculture, fisheries and related rural industries for their livelihood. Many of them migrate to cities in search of income and form the bulk of the underfed urban poor. At the same time, the small farmers and fishermen and landless labourers produce most of the food in Asia and the Pacific. They are the origins as well as the sustainable solutions to poverty and food insecurity. Therefore agricultural and rural development is crucial for sustainable food security and poverty alleviation. This requires empowerment of the rural sector through, among others: (a) raising productivity of small farms; (b) improving the resource base; (c) strengthening rural financing and credit systems; and (d) developing human resources. This item will review developments and trends in empowerment of small farmers and fishermen, identify and assess constraints and underscore success stories for lessons to be learnt.

7. Preparation for the WFS:fyl – Regional Dimensions

The Asia and Pacific Region’s progress in reducing the number of undernourished people has been slow. FAO estimates indicate that at the current rate, the Region as a whole will fail to meet the WFS PoA target of halving the World’s undernourished people, no later than 2015. But performances vary among countries and sub-regions. East and Southeast Asia have done better than South Asia. The gap between high achieving and under-performing countries is also very wide. It may be attributed to different approaches, policies and programmes adopted at country level. This item will assess reduction of undernourishment in Asia and the Pacific, identify likely causes for the differences in performance, and suggest measures to strengthen action plans that will keep the Region on track in meeting WFS PoA commitments and targets. The deliberations will be useful in the preparation for the WFS:fyl.

8. Agricultural Research for Development: FAO-CGIAR Linkage

9. Information on World Agricultural Information Centre (WAICENT)

IV. OTHER MATTERS

10. Any other business

11. Adoption of the Report of the Senior Officers Meeting

12. Closure of the Senior Officers Meeting

16 – 17 May 2002

1. Inaugural Ceremony

2. Election of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Appointment of Rapporteur

3. Adoption of Agenda and Timetable

4. Statement by the Director-General

5. Country Statements and General Debate on the Food and Agriculture Situation in the Region

6. Report on FAO Activities in the Asia and Pacific Region (2000-01)

7. Report on the Preparation for the WFS:fyl – Regional Dimensions

8. Report on the Senior Officers Meeting

9. Any other business

10. Date and Place of the 27^th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific

11. Adoption of the Report (including the Report on the Senior Officers Meeting)

12. Closure of the Conference