News and Press Releases
FAO is concerned for farmers – forgotten drought in several parts of the country
30.06.2010 the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Vientiane - The rainy season that usually starts at the end of May in Lao PDR is this year late and has still not started in parts of the country.The drought is mainly affecting rural farmers that engage in rain-fed rice production, as no irrigation facilities are available. Usually, these farmers rely on the monsoon rains which this year have not arrived.FAO is alarmed regarding the situation and is now...
Farmers stand to gain from bioenergy development in Thailand
15.06.2010 Thailand
Significant changes in land or crop use to be avoidedBangkok ¬ Improvements in agricultural productivity and responsible management of natural resources in support of the biofuel sector will unlock additional benefits for farmers, industry and the environment, an FAO statement said today.Findings emerging from the FAO Bioenergy and Food Security (BEFS) Project indicate that Thailand has the means to realize the Government’s plan for the development of the biofuels industry...
Bioenergy and food security in Thailand - Balancing the trade-offs of bioenergy development
11.06.2010 Thailand
The interplay between land availability, bioenergy production potential, rural development and food security, and the assessment of different bioenergy pathways present crucial areas for policy considerations, in particular for balancing trade-offs associated with bioenergy development.A research team composed of experts from FAO, the Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment – King Monkuts University of Technology Thonburi, the Office of Agricultural Economics, the Land Development Department, the Rural and Social...
Gong Li tells fans to get mad and join the fight against hunger
09.06.2010 China
Over 100 000 people so far have signed on to an international campaign to shine light on the scourge of chronic hunger / Beijing/Bangkok – Award-winning Chinese actress and FAO Goodwill Ambassador Gong Li is mad as hell, even though her new film Shanghai, co-starring John Cusak, promises to be a summer blockbuster.The star of acclaimed movie hits such as Raise the Red Lantern and Farewell My Concubine is taking...
Asia-Pacific forest area expands as biodiversity disappears - Bhutan hosts 23rd session of Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission
07.06.2010 Bhutan
Thimphu - While the area of forests in the Asia-Pacific region increases, levels of biodiversity are falling as large areas of primary forests continue to be lost according to FAO’s latest assessments.Forest cover in the Asia-Pacific region has risen by 14 million hectares since 2000. China, in particular, has shown remarkable progress, increasing its forest area by almost 30 million hectares in the past decade. Viet Nam, India and the...
Rural radio to support agricultural rehabilitation
05.06.2010 Bangladesh
Barguna - With support from FAO, a rural radio station for and by remote villagers will run alongside comprehensive rehabilitation support donated by the World Bank and the European Union for farmers and fishers regularly stalked by storms."People in the south need more support to rebuild their livelihood after the devastation caused by cyclones Sidr and Aila. Support in crop, fisheries and livestock sectors will be supplemented by broadcasting vital...
Asian countries to boost organic trade - Increased harmonization sought
03.06.2010 Bangkok
Participants from 12 Asian countries have agreed to move forward on concrete measures to reduce barriers to trade of organic products between them and win a growing share of global trade. The agreement was reached at a workshop held in Shanghai from 29 to 31 May under the auspices of the Global Organic Market Access (GOMA) project run jointly by FAO, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and...
Hunger in Asia-Pacific
01.06.2010 Thailand
Bangkok – Asia needs to wake up to the enormous challenge to feeding its population of 5 billion people by 2050. Gross annual investments of US$209 billion are required for primary agriculture and downstream services in the developing countries of the world for future food security.Following the multiple crises of fuel, food and finance over the last 4 years, domestic food prices have increased dramatically and are at present still...
Farmers in Chikreang receiving quality seed and fertilizer from FAO
20.05.2010 Cambodia
Phnom Penh – Under the FAO European Union Food Facility Project, the Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) HE Chan Sarun, yesterday distributed quality rice seed and fertilizer to 1 395 poor farm households in Chikreang Commune, Siem Reap province.Across Cambodia, rice seed and fertilizer are distributed to poorer rural families in 50 communes and 280 villages in nine provinces, in order to assist these families increase their...
Kuala Lumpur/Bangkok – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FAO today launched a campaign to raise awareness about the increasing problem of world hunger affecting over 1 billion people globally, of which 642 million live in the Asia-Pacific region. The cooperation agreement was signed today in Kuala Lumpur by AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam and FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific Region, Hiroyuki Konuma.The signing...