Expert consultation on statistics in support of policies to empower small farmers

Expert consultation on statistics in support of
policies to empower small farmers

Bangkok, Thailand
8 – 11 September 2009

RAP PUBLICATION 2009/17

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

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ISBN 978-92-5-106440-5

For copies, please contact:
Senior Statistician
FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Maliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Atit Road
Bangkok 10200
Thailand
Tel: (+66) 2 697 4000
Fax: (+66) 2 697 4445
Email: [email protected]

Abstract

Small farmers play a key role in agricultural development in Asia and the Pacific region. Lack of adequate data on small farmers who comprise the bulk of farm households and food-insecure people in the region is a constraint to devising effective policies to empower them. This is especially true in the context of trade liberalization and globalisation and soaring food prices which have adversely affected small farmers in Asia and the Pacific. The Asia and Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics (APCAS), at its June 2008 session in Kuching, Malaysia, emphasized the need to review data collection methods and types of information collected to keep information systems attuned to data needs for early warning signals of price and market fluctuations in order to support the setting up of mitigating measures against negative impacts of rising prices. This expert consultation was therefore organized to shed light on the role of statisticians in assisting policy-makers formulate timely corrective measures when confronted with food market crises. Experts from Australia, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and concerned FAO technical officers from headquarters and the regional office contributed to discussions on these issues and developed recommendations. It is hoped the summary account contained in this report will be useful to both decision-makers and information practitioners in meeting the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of the region’s malnourished by 2015.