It is a great pleasure for me to join all of you again on the World Food Day at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
For nearly six decades, FAO has provided important technical support and policy advice to countries in the Asia and the Pacific region in the fields of agricultural growth, rural development and food security. Its contributions are well known and recognized.
In recent decades, countries in the region have made considerable socio-economic progress and significantly reduced the proportion of undernourished population. However, statistically, 60 percent of the 840 million hungry people in the world live in Asia-Pacific countries. The region has adequate supplies of food to feed everybody, yet FAO statistics shows that one person out of every six in the region is undernourished. In this setting, the World Food Day theme for the year 2003 World Food Day, Building an international alliance against hunger, is of special significance to our region.
The problem is particularly acute in the case of children under five years and women, especially pregnant and nursing mothers. Many of them suffer from obvious signs of protein-energy and micronutrient deficiencies with long term adverse implications for their own lives as well as for the economic well-being of their countries. Undernourished women give birth to under-weight babies who are likely to remain poorly nourished throughout childhood. They can be at risk of having reduced mental and physical abilities. Such children growing up with inadequate nutrition during adolescence and into adulthood are likely to have low productivity and contribute to perpetuation of the vicious cycle of malnutrition and poverty.
Thailand’s experience in dealing with the issue of food and nutrition security has always been based on the agricultural development for food production. Our national policy and strategy has always been in accordance with FAO’s view in emphasizing the community participation and holistic approaches.
In addition to the Thai government supported projects, Thai civil society has for all time played an important role in the campaign against hunger and malnutrition; for example, an individual such as a successful farmer, or a group such as a successful farmer cooperative, lends a hand to the ones who need assistance. We also have foundations and non-governmental organizations that help funding the fight against hunger. The private sector, Thai companies and their employees now take much responsibilities in this effort.
The world now enters the age of globalization. In this context, inter- national alliance is the key to peace and prosperity. International communities, that is to say, governments, international organizations, international corporates and even individuals act as responsible members of the global society. They contribute technology, resources, innovative ideas and modalities of implementation to the common goal such as the fight against hunger. To foster this partnership, the host country or community must play a part of a good coordinator and should state the requirements in logical and understandable project proposals. After being provided with the financial and other provisions, progress reports are considered necessary. These documents are not only important for monitoring an assessment of the projects but they serve also as the sources of initiative for other communities which are in the same situation.
I would like to mention that in my work as an NGO, I have received assistance from FAO on many occasions since 1990 and I would like to thank the Organization for that.
The main responsibility for commitment of resources and mobilization of action lies with the national actors with the support of concerted international advocacy and action. This approach was duly recognized by more than 170 governments represented at the World Food Summit: five years later in 2002 through their declaration entitled International Alliance Against Hunger, which called for an urgent need to reinforce efforts of all concerned partners for the fulfillment of the 1996 Summit goals. We must pursue this Declaration bearing in mind that, in this battle against hunger, we can and must win.
Lastly, I join you all in congratulating FAO on this auspicious day for its achievements and offer Thailand’s good wishes and full hearted support to the World Food Day theme. I am confident that FAO will continue to receive similar support from other Asia-Pacific countries in realizing the collective mission of ensuring food security for all.
