News

Thailand, 27 Apr 2005 -- FAO and IFAD team up for pro-poor stance in rural and agricultural development Bangkok — Despite dramatic economic progress in Asia over the last three decades, a significant portion of the population remains poor as the fruits of development have not been shared equally across countries and within countries of the region, FAO said today. Poverty and food insecurity have emerged as one of the greatest development challenges for the [more...]

Viet Nam, 08 Apr 2005 -- Ho Chi Minh City. Since 2002 eight south and southeast Asian countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam) are participating in an FAO assisted five years integrated pest management (IPM) programme co-financed by the governments of Australia, the Netherlands and Norway for a total amount of $7.5 million. The project aims at drastically reducing pesticide use in vegetable production and increasing incomes of farmers. Through participatory [more...]

Thailand, 07 Apr 2005 -- Bangkok – A tiny parasitic wasp may help save the coconut industries of a number of countries in the Asia and Pacific region from a destructive pest that feeds on the developing leaves of the coconut palm, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today. Severe attacks by the coconut hispine beetle (Brontispa longissima Gestro) can destroy palm leaves and significantly reduce coconut yields. If a palm is young [more...]

Thailand, 04 Apr 2005 -- Bangkok (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) - Global rice paddy production in 2004 is now estimated to be 605 million tonnes, a 3.8 percent increase over 2003, FAO said today.If confirmed at that level, the 2004 rice harvest will be the second highest on record, according to the latest issue of FAO’s Rice Market Monitor (March 2005). However, rice production would, again, be insufficient to cover consumption. [more...]

Thailand, 31 Mar 2005 -- Bangkok – Soil salinity problems caused by the December tsunami waves are less severe than previously expected, FAO stated on the occasion of a workshop on soil salinity and rehabilitation, that opened in Bangkok today (31 March/1 April).“A total of 47 000 hectares (ha) of agricultural land have been damaged by tsunami waves in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, India and Thailand,” said Daniel Renault, the FAO coordinator for agriculture in [more...]

the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 30 Mar 2005 -- Bangkok/Rome – The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has sent a veterinary expert to Pyongyang/North Korea to obtain further information on the extent of the current avian influenza outbreak in the country and to offer assistance for controlling the bird flu virus. Two additional FAO avian influenza experts from China and Australia will arrive in Pyongjang within the next days.The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has informed FAO about [more...]

Thailand, 21 Mar 2005 -- Bangkok, 21 March 2005 – In the aftermath of the tsunami, Asian agricultural banks agree to direct credit support for strengthening fisheries and fish farmers associations and their involvement in community-based fisheries management and utilization, with due consideration to the role of women in fish processing and marketing, a joint APRACA/FAO statement said today.Credit and microfinance support to the rehabilitation of tsunami-affected fisheries and marine aquaculture should encourage sustainable management [more...]

Thailand, 16 Mar 2005 -- The AGORA initiative to provide free or low-cost science journals was launched on October 14, 2003 and in its first year of existence has seen significant increase in user participation as more publishers have agreed to provide online access to scientific journals on food and agriculture.The partners involved in the AGORA initiative gathered in London for the HINARI-AGORA Partners Meeting on 29th November 2004 to take stock of progress to [more...]

the Philippines, 14 Mar 2005 -- This FAO publication provides a brief guide on the subject of soil contamination by salt as a result of tsunami inundation of agricultural land in the coastal areas of Aceh province. It does not claim to be an exhaustive treatment of the subject but merely a starting point for immediate action and further discussion.The overall aim is to help the recovery of livelihoods in agricultural areas affected by the tsunami. [more...]

Thailand, 07 Mar 2005 -- Bangkok – In the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami, the surge for infrastructure and housing reconstruction requires vast supplies of wood. If not managed appropriately, this demand could adversely affect the remaining forests irrevocably, an FAO statement warned today.The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today called for attention to forests in the tsunami-affected countries which “are at risk of over-exploitation to meet immediate needs and [more...]