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As the Government of Tonga focuses on meeting immediate needs such as shelter, water and sanitation for people affected by the recent category 5 Tropical Cyclone Ian in the islands of Ha'apai, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Forests and Fisheries (MAFFF) has moved rapidly to launch recovery efforts, a joint Government of Tonga and FAO Sub-regional Office for the Pacific Islands has announced.The recovery efforts are focusing on agriculture,...

One of Japan’s top-ranked and most popular private universities is teaming up with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to improve the regional knowledge base and promote a joint effort to fight against hunger and under-nutrition, the FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific announced today. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by FAO’s Hiroyuki Konuma, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific and Ken-ichi...

Human infections with the influenza A(H7N9) virus are on the rise again in China and the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities provide opportunity for further spread and human exposure, FAO warned today. Millions of people and poultry are expected to be on the move and many households will slaughter poultry at home to celebrate the New Year. FAO called upon neighboring countries to remain vigilant in the face of A(H7N9) and...

Two of Asia-Pacific’s leading organizations and institutes have formally pledged to work together to develop innovative approaches in research, education and capacity building to counter hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity in the region. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) was signed today at the FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, in Bangkok. “This...

Two months after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende, lauded FAO for its work in helping rice farmers replace devastated crops with new seeds.   Brende visited farmers in Tingib village, Samar province, Eastern Visayas region in the central Philippines, the area most affected by the typhoon (known locally as Yolanda)  last 8 November. The storm left more than 6,000 people dead and devastated...

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 206.7 points in December, nearly unchanged from the previous month, with a sharp increase in dairy prices and high meat values balancing out a steep decline in sugar quotations and lower cereal and oil prices. For 2013 as a whole, the index averaged 209.9 points – down 1.6 percent from 2012 and well below 2011's peak of 230.1, but still the third highest annual value...

The government of Timor-Leste has today announced it is officially joining the global fight against hunger and malnutrition. The announcement was made during a high-level event in the capital Dili by the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao. The event was graced by the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand, a strong advocate of global efforts to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. The United...

One month after Typhoon Haiyan struck a devastating blow to the Philippines, farmers who lost essential crops and supplies are receiving the first wave of emergency seeds, restoring hope for a productive planting season and much-needed food for the coming year. FAO and the Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) have begun delivering the first rice and corn seed allocations to rural communities in the Visayan island group. As a result, some...

Farmers across Asia and the Pacific could soon have access to new and innovative technologies that would help them meet the region’s demand for increased food production and food security, a UN-convened meeting announced today. Leaders in agricultural research and extension services from across the Asia-Pacific region and representatives from civil society, private sector and international organizations today concluded an Expert Consultation on ‘Strengthening Linkages between Research and Extension to...

In recent years, climate-smart agriculture has emerged as a proven approach to ensure food security, increase agricultural productivity and incomes, build resilience to climate change and reduce emissions. However, what is often overlooked is the vast contribution of women in climate-smart agriculture. In many countries of ASEAN and beyond, women account for up to 50 percent of agricultural outputs. As women play an increasing and central role in agriculture and natural resources...