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Singh lauded for boosting Indian agricultureNew Delhi - FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf today conferred the UN organization’s highest award, the Agricola Medal, on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in recognition of his contribution to agricultural development and the reduction of hunger and poverty. “With your deep understanding of India’s economy you have made modernizing and revitalizing your country’s agriculture one of your highest priorities,” Dr Diouf said. India is the...

UN agency chiefs highlight role of agro-industries9 April 2008, New Delhi – Urgent measures are needed to ensure that short-term adverse effects of higher food prices do not impact even more alarmingly on the very poor, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said today. Addressing the first Global Agro-Industries Forum in New Delhi, along with the heads of UNIDO and IFAD, Dr Diouf highlighted the important role that agro-industry had to play...

Meeting of senior veterinary officials – situation in Bangladesh remains criticalSenior policy makers and veterinary officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal have agreed to work closer together in controlling avian influenza in the region, FAO said today. The countries agreed to develop a mechanism for rapid sharing of information about the disease at bilateral, multilateral, or sub-regional levels. This would include more regular personal contacts between the Chief...

Rome – World rice production is expected to increase in 2008 by 12 million tonnes or 1.8 percent, assuming normal weather conditions, FAO said today. Production increases would ease the current very tight supply situation in key rice producing countries, according to the first FAO forecast for this year. International rice trade is expected to decrease, mainly due to restrictions in main exporting countries.Sizable production increases are expected in all...

An FAO publication on "The role of coastal forests in the mitigation of tsunami impacts"' is now available on the FAO tsunami website.The publication, produced by the Government of Finland funded FAO "Forestry programme for early rehabilitation in Asian tsunami-affected countries", addresses the physical aspects of coastal protection against tsunamis by trees and forests. An analysis of both empirical and theoretical studies is provided and information is given on key...

High load of circulating virus could lead to mutation and a human influenza pandemicRome - The prevalence of avian influenza in Indonesia remains serious despite containment efforts undertaken by national authorities and the international community, FAO warned today. Indonesia is the country worst hit by avian influenza. “The human mortality rate from bird flu in Indonesia is the highest in the world and there will be more human cases if...

A Global Agro-Industries Forum - Improving competitiveness and development impact - will be held in New Delhi, India from 8 to 11 April 2008, organized by FAO in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of India (GOI).The Global Forum will bring together senior-level policy-makers from national and local governments, food industry leaders, UN technical agencies, civil society...

Tropical coastal deltas represent one of the most diverse and rapidly changing biophysical regions in the developing world. These deltas are home to large population centers such as Bangkok, Dhaka and Yangon, and are significant centers of agricultural production and industrial development. Coastal deltas also contain critical ecosystems such as mangrove and seagrass, and a rich collection of historical and cultural resources. Human communities in coastal deltas are equally diverse,...

Making e-Agriculture Work through Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Asia FORUM 10-28 March 2008You are invited to join a special online forum starting 10 March 2008. Participants from all over Asia representing government, private sector, NGOs, community outreach groups and others will be involved. The international community wants to hear your suggestions and solutions to overcome the challenges and focus on bringing practical solutions. Areas which will be explored include:...

Since 2004, Samoa has embarked on an ambitious plan to introduce sheep farming with the import of 40 ewes and four rams from Fiji. Three years later, supported by a carefully chosen breeding programme and the birth of many twins and triplets, the stock of sheep has increased six-fold and now totals 248 lambs. The number of breedable females is 114, and the sheep are about to be distributed to...