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Making e-Agriculture Work through Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Asia FORUM 10-28 March 2008You are invited to join a special online forum starting 10 March 2008. Participants from all over Asia representing government, private sector, NGOs, community outreach groups and others will be involved. The international community wants to hear your suggestions and solutions to overcome the challenges and focus on bringing practical solutions. Areas which will be explored include:...

Since 2004, Samoa has embarked on an ambitious plan to introduce sheep farming with the import of 40 ewes and four rams from Fiji. Three years later, supported by a carefully chosen breeding programme and the birth of many twins and triplets, the stock of sheep has increased six-fold and now totals 248 lambs. The number of breedable females is 114, and the sheep are about to be distributed to...

Livestock devastated - high fuel, cereal prices reduce poor’s access to foodRome – Extreme cold has devastated the Afghan livestock sector, killing over 300 000 animals since late December and seriously affecting livelihoods. High prices for fuel, vegetable oil and cereals are compounding the vulnerability of poor households, reducing their access to food. The harshest winter weather conditions in nearly 30 years have killed over 800 people, and many others,...

Chiang Mai/Bangkok – Skyrocketing milk powder prices prompt dairy industries in Asia to rethink linkages with smallholder dairy producers as they move to substitute imported milk powder by locally produced milk, an FAO statement said today. Dairy consumption in Asia has tripled since 1980, and demand for milk and milk products continues to rise as large numbers of consumers become more affluent. Strong local demand and decades-long competition from low-priced...

In 2003, 24 percent of Filipino families had incomes below the annual per capita poverty threshold of P12 475, or around 4 million poor families. Of these, close to 1.7 million families had a monthly income less than the food threshold and are referred to as “food-poor”.Since 2004, surveys indicated that the incidence of hunger in the Philippines worsened. The 2007 survey, revealed that 19 percent of Filipino families said...

Chiang Mai- With over 1 400 insect species eaten by humans worldwide, the insect world offers promising possibilities both commercially and nutritionally, FAO said today. A workshop organized by FAO this week will consider the contribution of forest insects to the human diet, and discuss the potential for further sustainable development in the Asia and Pacific region.While the idea of eating insects may seem unusual or even unappetizing to some,...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) is providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) for better formulation and management of policies, strategies and projects in support of agricultural development in the country.MAF shoulders heavy and increasing responsibilities in order to cope with newly emerging challenges such as climate change and demands for biofuels, international trade in food and regional economic integration.Speaking at the...

FAO is organizing the first-ever Asia-Pacific Forestry Week in coordination with various other regional and international partners. Forestry Week will be held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, from 21 to 26 April 2008.The event will bring together as many as 500 forestry and natural resources officials and specialists from governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutions, regional and international networks and the private sector.It is expected to be the largest and most...

Bangkok – Today Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was presented the FAO publication King Bhumibol – sowing a future for farmers during an audience at the Srapathum Palace in Bangkok.Representing His Majesty the King of Thailand, HRH Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously accepted the FAO latest publication King Bhumibol – sowing a future for farmers, a special book documenting the close and intrinsic relations between His Majesty’s sufficiency economy...