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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...

Vientiane - Over $US40 000 worth of information technology and motorbikes were officially donated today to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) from Japan and Germany, by projects managed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).The Department of Livestock and Fisheries received 20 motorbikes from the German Government and 11 computers, including laptops, as well as a photocopier and five projectors from the Japanese Government to bolster the...

Manila, (FAO/OIE/WHO) — At the invitation of the Government of the Philippines, experts from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have arrived in Manila to participate in a joint mission to further investigate the Ebola Reston virus identified last October in pigs from two farms in the Philippines.The fact that this is the first time that...

Yangon – The availability of vegetables in Myanmar is less than 50 percent the recommended daily dietary intake of vegetables (300 g/day). An FAO assisted project provides the platform to highlight this key issue and initiating remedial action at national level.With US$2.9 million funding provided by the European Commission, an FAO project in Myanmar plans to support most needy people in the Northern Rakhine State through food, nutrient and livelihood...