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First national Lao PDR rice survey to be released in JulyVientiane -- The first statistics-based assessment of the situation and outlook of rice in Lao PDR will be finalized by July, resulting in a better understanding of the rice situation in the country and increased capacity to plan for agricultural (rice) production development and environmental or economic change.Funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and supported by funds from...

Bangkok -- The 29th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific is held at the United National Conference Centre (UNCC/ESCAP), in Bangkok from 26 to 31 March 2009. This major biennial event is convened by FAO to review and make recommendations on key food and agricultural issues affecting the Asia-Pacific region.The conference brings together 43 Asia-Pacific FAO member nations and a wide range of observers such as United Nations...

Thimphu – Policy and decision-makers as well as local development officials in Bhutan now have access to comprehensive and updated statistical agriculture information.Bhutan's minister of agriculture, His Excellency Dr Pema Gyamtsho launched CountrySTAT-Bhutan on March 10 in the presence of representatives of international organizations and the media at a function at the ministry in Thimphu.Developed over the past year and a half with financial and technical support from the FAO-Netherlands...

But economic slowdown will affect the poor and their access to basic foods Rome - The 2008 rice bumper harvest is coming to a close with better-than-expected production that could help ease consumer prices, FAO said in its February Rice Market Monitor. But the agency warned that the global economic slowdown could outweigh the gains for the poorest of the world's rice consumers, because of falling incomes and rising job...

Ha Noi – With three new human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) reported in the country in as many months and poultry outbreaks identified in a number of provinces, two UN agencies in Viet Nam today warned that renewed vigilance was needed to protect against the disease. "While avian influenza poses a threat to humans and poultry throughout the year, experience in Viet Nam has shown that the threat is...

Vientiane - An estimated 500 people dropped by and sampled wild forest foods such as beetles, crickets and frogs at the FAO booth at the Lao and International Food Festival last weekend in Vientiane."Lao people are in the unique position of having collectable wild resources at their doorstep that are highly nutritious and delicious," said Serge Verniau, FAO Representative in Lao PDR.FAO promoted wild forest foods as an important part...

Vientiane - The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), with support from FAO, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding for an emergency assistance package that will allow the distribution of improved rice varieties seeds, vegetables seeds, cash crop seeds and training focusing on better agricultural cultivation practices in flood devastated areas in Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Khammouane provinces.The MOU was signed by Bounthong Buahom, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry...

Vientiane - If you look up to the crown of the majestic palms dotted around the capital Vientiane, you may notice that many have dried up leaves and a 'crab-like' deformation of the leave spears. This is a result of the coconut leaf beetle (Brontispa longissima) steadily spreading throughout districts and central provinces in Lao PDR in recent years.The damage causes serious reduction in nut yield and trees may even...

Bangkok – Despite extensive damage from Cyclone Nargis that mostly destroyed the rice harvest in the Ayeyarwaddy delta area, overall food production in Myanmar was satisfactory in 2008 because of increases in crop harvests in other regions, says a report issued by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP).Rice production in the cyclone-affected areas of Ayeyarwaddy and Yangon divisions is expected to...

Between 1990 and 2002, an additional 35 percent of the total urban population of the Asia-Pacific region - over 368 million people - gained access to improved to drinking water. Despite many local success stories, however, the need for better knowledge sharing and knowledge generation remains acute, and the social, economic and environmental future of the Asia-Pacific region largely hinges on how well water is managed in the coming years.While...