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The cyclone hit 5 states which are predominantly agricultural societies. Rural poor are the most hit.Damage to annual crops is expected, in particular on rice, oil palm and rubber plantation.The 5 states produce 65 percent of the countries rice, and have about 50 percent of all irrigated areas. There is risk that stored rice seeds kept by farmers - usually under poor storage facilities - might be affected by the...

Capacity building is at the heart of FAO's mandate. The newly published FAO Capacity Building Portal contributes to achieving FAO's vision to strengthen the national capacities of its member states to achieve their goals in food security and agricultural development. The Portal highlights FAO's:+ Learning Resources, both corporate and specialized collections.+ Learning Services, searchable by keyword and topic and providing access to FAO's Fellowships/Funding Sources database.+ Featured Sites highlighting specific...

Based on the rice crop calendar, Cyclone Nargis which just hit Myanmar may have affected the 2007 secondary paddy crops, which are normally harvested between April and June. However, without a proper assessment of crop damage, it is difficult to gauge how the final 2007 paddy production will be impacted.FAO estimate of 2007 production for the country now stands at 30.02 million tonnes (18.9 million tonnes, milled rice equivalent), down...

Bangkok - Since 2005, developing countries have overtaken the developed world as the main potato growers, benefiting from major scientific discoveries over the last decades which have greatly simplified the introduction of improved varieties and dramatically expanded the area under potato cultivation, the International Potato Center (CIP) said today in Bangkok.Potatos are an overlooked opportunity for food security and income generation in Asia, the CIP statement added.The potato is now...

Hanoi - Forest conservation in Asia and the Pacific cannot succeed without the direct involvement of local people, a gathering of the region’s forest managers concluded today in Hanoi.Throughout the region, there are millions of indigenous and rural people dependent on forests for their basic daily needs."The remaining pockets of intact tropical forests in Asia and the Pacific overlap almost perfectly with the geographical distribution of poverty," said Sunita Narain,...

Hanoi - Trees grow for hundreds of years, but the forestry sector needs to change immediately if it is to deal effectively with the rapid changes occurring in modern society. Climate change, skyrocketing costs of food and fuel, persistent poverty and escalating demands for forest products are bringing unprecedented challenges to the forestry sector in Asia and the Pacific, according to leading forestry experts."What we do – or don’t do...

Asia-Pacific Forestry Week: Forestry in a changing worldHanoi - The world’s forests, and the strategies that are adopted to protect and manage them, are at a crossroads. Never before have the stakes been so high – we either collectively develop workable strategies – or suffer the consequences, FAO said today in underpinning the role of the first Asia-Pacific Forestry Week.The most pressing challenges facing the Asia-Pacific forests go far beyond...

Hanoi, 21-26 April 2008Over 600 participants from more than 50 countries will take part in the first-ever Asia-Pacific Forestry Week in Hanoi from 21 to 26 April 2008. This first-of-its-kind gathering is the largest and most significant forestry-related event in the region in 2008. It will bring together leading forestry and environment figures from government, civil society, the private sector and multilateral institutions. A broad array of forestry meetings and...

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...