Annexes

Annex 1 - Media coverage

25/Oct/2001 THAILAND: THAILAND'S EFFORTS IN FIGHTING HUNGER TO REDUCE POVERTY.

Each year, Thailand joins the world community in celebrating World Food Day, 16 October. The celebration marks the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The theme for Word Food Day in 2001 is "Fight hunger to reduce poverty." Thailand has adopted many strategies to overcome poverty. One of them is to enhance the capabilities of the people and empower them to effectively deal with poverty, employing strategies based on self-reliance. According to the message by FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf, almost 800 million people in the developing world remain locked in a desperate cycle of hunger and poverty. Five years ago world leaders met in Rome at the World Food Summit to pledge a solemn commitment to halve the number of hungry people from 800 million to 400 million by the year 2015. Although there are some countries that have made enormous strides in reducing hunger and poverty, the target set five years ago remains far away. The answer does not simply lie in boosting agricultural production. Ironically, the world now has enough food to feed every man, woman, and child on the globe. If all the food produced in the world were to be shared equally among its inhabitants, every living person would have a daily intake of 2,760 calories, more than enough to lead a healthy and productive life. Thailand is one of the largest trading countries in agricultural products. It is the world leader in the production and export of rice, tapioca, sugar, and canned pineapples. The FAO has projected that rice production in Thailand will play a crucial part in maintaining the security of world food. In fisheries, it is the world's largest exporter of frozen shrimps and canned tuna. In poultry, it is among the largest exporters of frozen chicken. The country is further known for its wide selection of fruits and vegetables, as well as processed products such as juice concentrates and frozen or dehydrated vegetables and fruits. Food processing and the agro-industry in general have played a leading role in the export market. With promising prospects in the food industry, the Thai government has established a policy to develop the country as a major world food center. The country is also striving to become "the kitchen of the world" by 2020. In tackling the poverty problem, the Government stressed the need to reduce poverty through job creation and income creation at the grassroots level. It has established the one-million-baht Village Fund to help each community to finance projects and to develop and market its own products. The People's Bank was launched in late June 2001 to help poor people secure low-interest loans without collateral for their business operation. In addition, more than 2.3 million small farmers whose debt burden is less than 100,000 baht each will benefit from the Government's interest suspension scheme. Of this number of farmers, 52 percent will be given a grace period for both interest and principal payments for three years. The remaining 48 percent will derive other benefits from the scheme to help in their production restructuring. These measures will reduce small producers' dependence on financial sources with high interest rates. They are believed to help stimulate the grassroots economy and contribute to poverty reduction. The current five-year National Economic and Social Development Plan makes poverty reduction the main objective of Thailand's national development. Its strategies are designed to tackle poverty for the target group of 9.9 million people in Thailand by the end of the 9th National Development Plan. His Majesty the King of Thailand in 1999 was presented with the first Telefood medal by the FAO in recognition of his contributions to the building of food security. He has been praised for his strong support in the battle against hunger and poverty to ensure food security and his advocacy of self-reliance for Thai farmers. His concept of "Sufficiency Economy," with emphasis on self-reliance, has been adopted as Thailand's new strategy to overcome poverty

© 2001 Thai News Service.

THAI NEWS SERVICE 25/10/2001

Annex 2 - List of guests

The following is a list of selected guests who attended the regional observance of World Food Day at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific on 16th October 2001.

Guest of Honour

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

Guest speaker

William D. Dar, Director General, International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

Outstanding farmers

Hafez Sk. Mezbahuddin, fish culture, Bangladesh
Iyam Maryamah (Ms), rice farming, Indonesia
China Kumari K.C. (Mrs), highland farming, Nepal
Nivat Pontchour, horticulture, Thailand

2001 Best school botanical garden

Chumpol Chaimongkol, Principal
Ban Talad Kheelek Primary School, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Diabled farmers group from Ubon Rachathanee

Jongjai Tarunjan, farmer
Pramuan Khanankhaeng, farmer
Darat Banna (Mrs), farmer
Saengpet Thamdee, farmer
Umpon Thamdee (Mrs), farmer
Sawaeng Srisawang (Ms), farmer
Auradee Sirachai (Ms), farmer

Office of the Royal Development Projects Board

Panthep Klanarongran, Secretary-General
Pisit Voraurai, Chairman of the Executive Board, Plant Genetics Conservation Project
Somsong Rungroengsilpa, Director of Computer Center
Udom Dechmanee, Advisor

Royal Thai Government

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives

HE Prapat Panyachartrak, Deputy Minister
Petipong Phungbun Na Ayudhya, Permanent Secretary
Sitdhi Boonyaratpalin, Deputy Permanent Secretary
Thongtavee Deemakarn, Inspector-General
Phinit Korsieporn, Director, Foreign Agricultural Relations Division
Kasem Prasutsaiengchan, Foreign Agricultural Relations Division
Prachuab Lewchalermwong (Ms), Foreign Agricultural Relations Division

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Laxanachantorn Laohaphan (Mrs), Director-General, International Organizations

Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

Surapee Vasinonta (Mrs), Director, Committee for Rehabilitation of Disabled Person, Department of Public Welfare

Boupha (Mrs), Committee for Rehabilitation of Disabled Person, Department of Public Welfare

National Research Council, universities and academic institutions

Songsak Sriannujata, Director, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University

Warunee Varanyanond, Director, Institute of Food Research & Product Development

Vilas Techo, Deputy, Urban and Rural Development Bureau, Population and Community Development Association (PDA)

Naresuan University

Mario Tabucanon, Provost, Asian Institute of Technology

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Sriwat Thiptaradon, Deputy Secretary-General

Non-governmental organizations and associations

Khunying Ambhorn Meesok, President, Foundation for Life-long Education

Sumet Tantivejakul, Secretary-General, Chaipattana Foundation

Ratana Tungasudi, Vice-President, The National Council of Women of Thailand

Chandra Pitrachat (Ms), Board Member and Treasurer, Chairman, International Relations, Distance Learning Foundation

Sorada Duke (Mrs), Member, Board of Foreign Relations, Distance Learning Foundation

J. S. Sindhu, Director (In-coming), Asia-Pacific Seed Association

N. Mamicpic, Director (Out-going), Asia-Pacific Seed Association

Embassies

Other invited guests

Prem Nath, former FAO Assistant Director-General
Johanne Hanko (Ms), Satit Thaithatgoon and Prasert Wuthikamphee, ex-FAO consultants

Annex 3 - 2001 WFD organizing secretariat

Steering committee

R.B. Singh, Chairperson
Dong Qingsong, Deputy Regional Representative
N.M. Hla, Chief, Management Support Unit
Donato B. Antiporta, Policy Assistance Branch
Sri Limpichati (Mrs), Consultant
D. de Vleeschauwer, Information Officer (Secretary of Steering Committee)

Organizing committees

Invitations, reception and protocol

Dong Qingsong, Chairperson
D. de Vleeschauwer
Kanokporn Chansomritkul (Ms)
Veena Tohsanguanpun (Ms)
Kanjerat Boonyamanop (Ms)
Vishnu Songkitti
Nawarat Chalermpao (Ms)
Chanrit Uawongkun
Adosirn Chanprapalert
Sataya Paengpong
Tess Rattana-Areeyagon (Ms)
Jaruwan Thananimit (Ms)
Phavinee Tithipan (Ms)
Bongkoch Prasanakarn (Ms)
Aruneeprapa Peansanong (Ms)
Chatreudee Wilkie (Ms)
Monpilai Youyen (Ms)
Jintana Anunacha (Ms)
Duangporn Sritulanondh (Ms)
Kanerng Kamuthavanich
Pannee Sophannakorn (Ms)
Sunee Hormjunya (Ms)
Thamrongsak Techatadakul
Suthep Rakpanyakaew
Veravat Hongskul (MC)

Officers for the outstanding farmers:

Pijush Saha, Darmo Suparmo, S.L. Kang, Purushottam Mudbharry, Praphas Weerapat
Best school: Nongnuch Tuntawiroon

Liaison with Thai government

Dong Qingsong, Chairperson
Sri Limpichati (Mrs)
D. de Vleeschauwer
Praphas Weerapat

Logistics

N.M. Hla, Chairperson
Pravet Awachanakarn
Wichai Nomkhumtode
Pensri Yujang (Ms)
Prasert Huatsawat

Catering

Limpichati (Mrs), Chairperson
Chainarong Palaprasert

Media, publications and photographs

D. de Vleeschauwer, Chairperson
Apinya Petcharat (Ms)
Kanokporn Chansomritkul (Ms)
Prayoon Amari
M. Uniyal (consultant)
Vicky Suntonvipart (consultant)

Annex 4 - List of publications distributed

· 2001 WFD information note

· 2001 WFD book mark

· 2001 WFD post card

· 2001 WFD poster

· TeleFood 2001 pamphlet

· TeleFood projects pamphlet

· WFS: fyl pamphlet

· Brochure FAO what it is

· Brochure RAP fighting hunger in Asia-Pacific

· RAP publication Selected Indicators

· Reforming FAO

· SOFI 2001

· Address by H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

· Message by the FAO Director-General

· Address by ADG/RR

· Keynote speech by William D Dar