600 million hungry people in Asia-Pacific

Bangkok – In the face of a serious economic and financial crisis that is compounding the world's food insecurity, Jacques Diouf, director-general of FAO, today appealed on agricultural ministers of over 30 Asia-Pacific countries to "help unlock untapped agricultural production potential, and rapidly boost production in the most affected countries."

"The precarious food situation tells us that reviving agricultural production in the developing world is the only viable way to combat hunger," the director-general said today at the start of the ministerial segment of the 29th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific.

According to the FAO's report "The State of Food Insecurity in the World", in the developing countries of Asia and the Pacific, the number of undernourished people fell by 40 million between 1990-92 and 2003-05, a reduction of 7 percent. But the food crisis reversed this trend and added 41 million people to the number suffering from chronic hunger in Asian countries in 2007 alone. At present, an estimated 600 million hungry people live in the region.

"Food availability and access must be improved to alleviate the effects of soaring food prices on poor and vulnerable groups,"’ he said, calling on governments to "duly recognize … the true importance of agriculture and rural development in poverty alleviation."

"Volatile food prices and market uncertainties have become major concerns as they threaten not only food security but also social and political stability," Diouf said.

He cautioned that tightened credit because of the world financial crisis could result in increasing food shortages in coming years.

"Ultimately, it is in the agricultural sector that hunger and malnutrition must be addressed."

Calling for urgent and courageous steps to unlock agricultural potential and rapidly revive production in the most affected countries, Diouf noted that "In this time of crisis, it is important to address complex issues, …, governance, strengthening national institutions, farmer support, official development assistance, increasing agriculture’s share of national budgets, incentives for private investment, and partnerships at country level."

The region will also have to rise to the challenge of climate change. "The reduced supply of water and the advance of animal and plant diseases will primarily affect the poor countries and the small island states that have less capacity of response to absorb and control negative impacts."

The five-day conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, drew some 500 representatives from 32 countries, a large number of international and regional organizations as well as NGOs/CSOs around the Asia-Pacific region to debate and devise solutions to a range of problems - including climate change, trade barriers, water shortages, food safety issues and transboundary animal diseases – that are contributing to rising food insecurity.

"Good agricultural practices including conservation agriculture would help considerably to adapt to and mitigate climate change."

The two-day ministerial segment was inaugurated by the Thai prime minister today.

More information at:
http://www.fao.org/world/regional/rap/conference_29th_APRC.asp