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The 31st FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Melia Hanoi Hotel in Viet Nam from 12 to 16 March 2012. 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 44 Asia-Pacific FAO member nations and a wide range of observers such as representatives...

The two yearly meeting of agricultural ministers from 44 Asia-Pacific countries – the largest such gathering in the region of policy makers in the fields of food and nutrition security – will be held in Hanoi from 12 to 16 March 20122, hosted by the ministry of agriculture and rural development of Viet Nam (MARD). Last month the FAO regional office in Bangkok mailed out the invitations for attendance at the...

A Regional Workshop for the Global Review of Phytosanitary Surveillance in the Context of the IPC Standard was held in Chiang Rai, Thailand from  31 January – 3 February 2012. The objectives of the workshop were to identify the challenges faced by NPPOs in the implementation of the standard; to provide recommendations for the review panel on ways to improve the standard; and to gather examples of best practice for preparation...

Global rice production is expected to set a new record when figures for 2011 are finalized, according to FAO, which raised its forecast for the world harvest by 700 000 tonnes on improved crop prospects in Asia. Rice production should increase by 21. 4 million tonnes, a 3 percent increase over the record set in 2010, and total 721 million tonnes (481 million tonnes, milled basis). Improved output from Asia...

A three-day, Asia-wide consultation of experts organized by FAO opened today in Bangkok: the consultation focuses on the potential impacts of agricultural investment on access to land and on the security of tenure. Inequitable access to, and insecure tenure of land are root causes of hunger, malnutrition, poverty and environmental degradation. These are acute governance issues in the Asia and Pacific region which is home to an estimated 685 million of...

The FAO has recognised the efforts of the tribal community of Koraput, Orissa, by making their traditional method of farming a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). A formal announcement of their GIAHS status was delivered by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the 99th Session of the Indian Science Congress, held at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), from 3-7 January 2012. He congratulated the tribal community for the...

An FAO-funded emergency project will complement Thai government’s efforts to support flood-affected farmers in eight provinces to save their farm animals and go back to their fields as soon as possible through the provision of agricultural and livestock inputs amounting to some Baht 12 million (US$ 400 000). Thailand was severely affected by the floods since mid-August and flooded areas are currently estimated at over 12.5 percent of Thailand’s total land...

Invited to participate in the International Horticultural Exposition Royal Flora Rachaphreuk 2011 by the department of agriculture of the Thai ministry of agriculture and cooperatives, FAO showcased key achievements and issues related to sustainable agriculture through a small exhibition at the Expo Center 2 during the period 14 to 26 December 2012. The main concepts of the Royal Flora 2011, 3Gs – generation, garden and greenitude – and 3Rs – reuse,...

With training on rice intensification and the provision of seed and fertilizers, a smallholder farmer from Kailali district in far-western Nepal, has more than doubled his yield and generated an income. In past years, Mr Upadhya was obliged to migrate in search of employment as his 0.16 hectare plot of land failed to produce enough to meet his family’s basic needs. Working as a porter or watchman in India, he returned to...

FAO and ESCAP are calling for entries of case studies that document best practices of existing and innovative as well as cost-effective and sustainable solutions to achieve economic, food and water security within a green growth process in Asia-Pacific. Solutions will contribute to developing a framework for action towards economic, food and water security in the region. They will include processes for reviewing broad social, economic and environment objectives through a...