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World rice prices dropped during 2010Bangkok - FAO’s estimate of global rice paddy production in 2009 now stands at 680 million tones, 1 percent below the 2008 outstanding harvest, with much of the reduction being on account of Asia, where crops were impaired by erratic monsoon rains and the resurgence of El Niño conditions. Sluggish world import demand negatively affected all the rice market segments and resulted in sharp declines...

The speed of change in the livestock sector, in particular in Asia, has often resulted in systemic failures as apparent in social exclusion, widespread environmental damage, and threats to human health, FAO said today during the Asia-Pacific launch of the 2009 report The State of Food and Agriculture – Livestock in the balance.The global livestock sector has changed at an unprecedented pace over the past few decades. The booming demand...

Spanish oceanographic boats to undertake studiesPhuket – During a two day meeting, six Asian countries mapped out detailed plans to address severe poverty of artisanal and small scale fishers and halt ecosystem degradation, emphasizing the need for participatory and sustainable approaches.Coastal communities make important but often poorly recognized contributions to the food security and development of many millions of people. Funded by Spain, a four year regional programme for fisheries...

Vientiane – Over the last 6 weeks improved rice seeds were distributed to 11 380 households in five southern provinces of Lao PDR that were affected by last year’s devastating typhoon Ketsana.Two field teams distributed the rice seeds directly to affected populations in 238 target villages in the five provinces. A total of 440 tons of rice seeds were distributed from the end of February to the middle of April...

Siem Reap – Senior government statisticians from 17 Asia-Pacific countries and FAO experts are meeting this week at a regional forum to discuss ways to improve governments’ access to reliable and up-to-date agricultural data to ensure effective agricultural and rural development policies and programmes.Cambodia’s Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, HE Chan Sarun inaugurated this morning the 23rd Session of the Asia and Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics (APCAS), 26...

Dhaka - The Government of Bangladesh and FAO have signed today a new project 'Enhancing Rural Communication Services for Agricultural Development through Community Rural Radio', the first of 12 rural radio initiatives cleared recently by the government under the Right to Information Act 2009.FAO, in collaboration with the Agricultural Information Services (AIS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, will set-up the first Community Rural Radio in Amtoli upazila in the Borguna...

Port Vila - Messages resonating from the inaugural Pacific Food Summit are clear: everyone – from the Government to food traders to producers to community groups to individuals- has responsibility for making sure that all Pacific people have access to safe, nutritious, local food. This is critical to ensure the future health and prosperity of the Pacific. More than 170 delegates gathered over 3 days to discuss current concerns and...

Boosting agriculture, creating viable local food systems and protecting the vulnerable will have measurable impacts on improving Pacific food securityPort Vila - Sustainable local agriculture and protecting the rights of the vulnerable have emerged as strong themes on Day Two of the Pacific Food Summit being held in Port Vila, Vanuatu.If people don’t have access to safe, healthy, nutritious food, health and development outcomes are dramatically negatively impacted. Increasing sustainable...

Interview on EU Food Facility in NepalPolitical instability, high food and fuel prices and a severe winter drought in 2009 have left over 3 million people in Nepal with not enough to eat. With €8 million in funding from the EU Food Facility, the European Union’s € one billion response to rising hunger in the world, FAO is partnering with government and the World Food Programme (WFP) to help boost...

Port Vila (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) -- Faced with rising levels of obesity and a growing urban-rural divide with high rates of underemployment, senior Pacific island government officials, food industry executives and civil society organization leaders will hold a Pacific Food Summit here this week (21-23 April 2010), in partnership with a number of UN and regional agencies, to consider strategies and actions that could improve...