For the attention of Governments and FAO
The Conference:
1. called on member countries, working in close cooperation with international organizations, to urgently re-energize political commitment and increase resources to reduce the number of undernourished in the world and to ensure food security for all.
2. urged member countries and FAO to make good use of the opportunities presented by the International Year of Rice (IYR) to highlight and strengthen the contributions of the rice sector in ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods.
For the attention of Governments
The Conference:
3. urged all countries to demonstrate flexibility and commitment in advancing multilateral agricultural trade reform to enhance food security and reduce poverty.
4. encouraged donor countries to meet the commitments made in Monterrey and other fora to provide 0.7 percent of GDP as official development assistance.
5. urged all member countries to collectively develop innovative approaches and mechanisms to overcome the funding constraints affecting the region.
For the attention of FAO
The Conference:
6. called on FAO to intensify its efforts in the region in line with the Regional Strategic Framework that had been formulated to translate FAO’s Strategic Framework 2000-2015 into regional action.
7. urged FAO to further decentralize and enhance regional capabilities to better address regional priorities.
8. requested FAO, other international organizations and donors to provide targeted support to address the special challenges of the Pacific Island Countries through early warning systems, disaster preparedness and management, appropriate agricultural production systems, value-added processing, marketing and policy support.
9. urged specific support for the South Pacific Regional Programme for Food Security.
10. requested FAO to continue strengthening capacities for multilateral and bilateral agricultural trade negotiations, especially within the framework of the Doha Development Agenda, to reduce international trade distortions and provide increased opportunities for developing countries.
11. encouraged FAO to further strengthen mechanisms for exchanging technical knowledge and experience through South-South Cooperation, Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC), regional networking, and other partnerships.
12. urged FAO to strengthen its support for the development and effective implementation of national and international plans of action, codes and guidelines for responsible fishery and forestry practices, and efforts to eliminate unsustainable fishing and logging.
13. requested FAO to continue its facilitating role as Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests under the United Nations Forum on Forests.
For the attention of Governments and FAO
The Conference:
14. recommended that member countries and FAO assess and prioritize the needs, both at national and regional levels, for interventions in technology, management, institutions and human resources, in order to enhance the role of rice in sustainable agriculture and rural development.
15. urged member countries and FAO to prioritize actions and to seek support and collaboration through innovative and cost-efficient approaches including extra-budgetary support, Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) and other South-South cooperation mechanisms.
For the attention of Governments
The Conference:
16. urged member countries to undertake the necessary restructuring of the rice sector, to the maximum extent possible, within an enabling environment of political commitment, participatory governance, freedom from civil unrest, macro-economic stability and gender sensitivity.
17. encouraged member countries to classify rice lands according to those targeted for: (i) productivity enhancement and stabilization, (ii) rehabilitation, and (iii) shifting away from rice cultivation so as to enable governments and others to plan and invest more rationally.
18. urged member countries to carefully prepare for natural disasters and take measures to mitigate the negative impacts on rice production.
For the attention of FAO
The Conference:
19. requested FAO to assist member countries in implementing integrated approaches for increasing the productivity of rice-based cropping system by (i) upgrading technologies, (ii) improving farm management, (iii) arresting and reversing land degradation, (iv) reducing air and water pollution, (v) enhancing water-use efficiency, (vi) increasing access to land, (vii) strengthening institutions for participatory governance, (viii) improving access to financing, supporting cost-efficient marketing and other support services, and (ix) further developing capacity for sustainable rice production.
20. requested FAO to provide continuing technical support to member countries in implementing relevant programmes for diversifying rural economies in ways that would lead to more sustainable agriculture and rural development.
21. requested FAO to assist member countries in analyzing rice-commodity trade, accessing relevant market information, and adjusting to trade liberalization, particularly within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
22. requested FAO to provide continuing technical support to member countries for efforts to reduce pre- and post-harvest losses in the rice sector through improved technology and management.
23. requested FAO to increase efforts in facilitating and promoting collaborative activities in areas of quality improvement, grading and standardization, food safety, and trade promotion through networks and consortiums, especially within the framework of the International Alliance Against Hunger.
24. urged FAO to work closely with relevant institutions of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and to increase support for strengthening national agricultural research systems in the region.
For the attention of Governments and FAO
The Conference:
25. recommended that member countries and donor organizations should increase budgetary allocations for agriculture extension and reorient extension services to allow them to effectively address the changing requirements and trends facing agriculture and extension.
26. urged member countries and international organizations to ensure that agriculture extension is effectively geared toward supporting small-scale and resource-poor farmers, including ethnic minorities, elderly-headed farming households, women, youth, orphans, AIDS-affected families, physically and mentally disabled and other under-privileged individuals.
27. urged FAO to work with member countries and other partners to identify and share information on “best practices” and methods for making use of new information communication technologies (ICTs).
28. encouraged member countries and FAO to support participatory approaches to information delivery, including farmer-to-farmer exchanges, multi-purpose Farmer Field Schools, and other mechanisms that draw upon the existing knowledge of farmers.
For the attention of Governments
The Conference:
29. urged member countries to strengthen partnerships among the various extension service providers and to involve them fully in the delivery of extension support whenever appropriate.
30. urged member countries to decentralize extension services and devolve resources to local extension service providers whenever possible.
For the attention of FAO
The Conference:
31. requested FAO to examine the correlation between trends in extension spending and changes in the number of farmers engaged in agriculture.
32. requested FAO to provide advice to member countries on the most effective agriculture extension approaches and delivery mechanisms and to support measures for strengthening the capacity of national agriculture extension services.
33. urged FAO to develop a concrete action plan, including prioritization of recommended actions, for supporting member countries in reorienting agriculture extension services and strengthening extension capabilities.
34. requested FAO to continue providing support and guidance to member countries in reviewing and revising agricultural policies, including agricultural extension policies, as required.
For the attention of Governments and FAO
The Conference:
35. called for increased investments in the fight against hunger, including at national levels and through international support.
36. recommended that programmes to increase productivity be coupled with efforts to improve the marketing and management skills of producers.
For the attention of Governments
The Conference:
37. urged member countries to adopt a twin-track approach to reducing hunger, combining promotion of rural and agricultural growth with targeted programmes to ensure that hungry people have access to adequate supplies of food.
38. called for increases in agriculture and rural development investments in accord with the goals and commitments of the WFS.
39. urged all countries to urgently review and appropriately adjust their public expenditure priorities to advance toward the goals of the WFS.
40. encouraged all member countries to contribute to the achievement of substantial improvements in market access, and reduction of export subsidies and trade-distorting domestic support in line with commitments made at the Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar.
41. encouraged member countries that were lagging behind in meeting the WFS goals to assess their national performance vis-a-vis the national and international commitments made earlier and provide the necessary political will to progress.
42. requested countries to identify important gaps in policies, resource allocation and implementation capacities needed to achieve WFS goals.
43. recommended that member countries that have not yet prepared national food and nutrition security strategies, with time-bound action plans, should to do so as quickly as possible, followed by effective support for implementation.
44. urged member countries to mainstream food security as a national priority within national development policy frameworks and investment programmes, including country poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSPs).
45. encouraged countries to improve safety nets against hunger, including public distribution systems and school feeding programmes.
46. urged countries to strengthen programmes for rural income and employment generation.
For the attention of FAO
The Conference:
47. supported FAO’s initiatives at the global level to expedite progress in meeting the WFS targets, including the Anti-Hunger Programme, International Alliance Against Hunger, and the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS).
48. supported FAO’s initiative to review and update national agricultural, rural development and food security strategies and policies.
49. requested FAO to continue its support in strengthening national capacities to analyze trade issues, assist countries in formulating and updating national trade legislation, facilitate regional and sub-regional information sharing related to trade negotiations, and assist countries in enhancing competitiveness in terms of price and quality of products.
50. requested FAO to work with countries that had achieved success in reducing the number of undernourished in undertaking case studies to identify the elements of success that might be disseminated and promoted more widely.
For the attention of Governments and FAO
The Conference:
51. recommended that FAO and other international organizations support fully the implementation of the South Pacific Programme for Food Security (RPFS).
52. requested FAO and other international organizations to work with Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to enhance capacity for agriculture marketing and trade, focusing on policy analysis, marketing and information systems and market access, including issues in relation to the World Trade Organization (WTO), sanitary and phytosanitory measures and product quality.
53. urged FAO and other international organizations to provide increased technical assistance to PICs for environmentally sound agricultural development, including support for improved soil and nutrient management, crop-livestock farming systems, agroforestry, seed production, efficient water use, environmental protection and natural resource conservation, and management of fisheries and aquaculture resources.
54. encouraged continued collaboration for the implementation of the RPFS through cost-effective mechanisms with South-South Cooperation.
For the attention of Governments
The Conference:
55. urged PICs to develop and implement national strategies for food security, including prioritization of actions, and establish time frames and mechanisms for adequate financing.
For the attention of FAO
The Conference:
56. requested FAO to provide improved guidance in the future with regard to procedures for addressing discussion items vis-ŕ-vis information items, and urged FAO to link information items with discussion items whenever practical.
1. The twenty-seventh FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific was held in Beijing, China, from 17 to 21 May 2004. The Conference was organized in two parts, including a Senior Officers Meeting from 17 to 19 May, and a Ministerial-level Meeting from 19 to 21 May.
2. Representatives from 33 member countries participated in the Conference. Observers from 1 United Nations member state, 8 international non-governmental organizations and 3 intergovernmental organizations were also in attendance. Representatives of 6 other United Nations organizations participated. Representatives of 10 international non-governmental organizations and 44 local non-governmental and civil society organizations participated in a pre-Conference NGO/CSO regional consultation, entitled “From Agenda to Action – Follow-up to the NGO/CSO Forum on Food Sovereignty,” which was convened 15 to 16 May 2004.
3. The Senior Officers Meeting was opened with addresses by Mr He Changchui, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, and the Honourable Zhang Baowen, Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of China.
4. Mr He expressed appreciation to the Government of China for its excellent support in hosting the meeting. He noted recent developments and trends in agriculture in the region over the past two years, including burgeoning intra-regional trade, heightened awareness of the critical role of agriculture in poverty alleviation and food security, and increased international collaboration to resolve agricultural problems. He also highlighted the important challenges associated with continued population growth and changing demographics, deteriorating agricultural infrastructure, increasing income disparity, and frequent natural and man-made disasters. Mr He introduced the six thematic areas of the Regional Strategic Framework (i.e. restructuring of agriculture, decentralization of governance, reducing vulnerability to disasters, promoting sustainable use of natural resources, strengthening biosecurity, and enhancing the future of rice) recently formulated by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific to translate FAO’s Strategic Framework 2000-2015 for regional implementation. He anticipated that the Regional Strategic Framework would help guide national and collective action toward reducing the numbers of undernourished in the region.
5. His Excellency Zhang Baowen welcomed delegates and participants to Beijing on behalf of the Government of China and formally opened the Senior Officers Meeting. He drew upon the recent experiences of China in highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture in the region. The Vice-Minister emphasized the importance of sound policies, efficient and equitable allocation of resources, solid agricultural support services, diversified production, careful protection of the environment, appropriate measures for managing pests and diseases and natural disasters, effective marketing and progressive trade strategies. He highlighted two fundamental tasks: reducing dramatically the numbers of undernourished, and effective management and conservation of the region’s natural resources. He urged delegates to think and act boldly in developing new ideas and proposals for collaborative action in addressing challenges in agriculture and rural development, reminding delegates of the need to accelerate progress toward meeting the goals of the World Food Summit.
6. The Inaugural Ceremony of the Ministerial Meeting was held on 19 May. Mr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of FAO, warmly welcomed the President of China and all participants of the Conference. He appreciated the importance accorded the meeting, exemplified by the large number of participating ministers and secretaries of agriculture.
7. His Excellency Mr Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China, presented the Conference inaugural address. He highlighted the importance of agriculture in underpinning world stability, noting that it was vital for supporting numerous aspects of economic and social development. He applauded the progress that many Asia-Pacific countries had made in reducing hunger and poverty. The President noted, however, that progress was uneven in the region because of differences in land productivity, frequent natural disasters, and the impact of various political, economic and social factors. He stressed the need for increased resources, commitment and cooperation to raise the level of agricultural development throughout the region.
8. Elaborating on China’s experiences in agriculture and rural development, the President attributed the country’s successes to market-oriented policy reforms, targeted investments in agricultural infrastructure, strong support for research and development, and consistent efforts in upgrading farm technologies and practices. He pledged that China would further open its agriculture sector to the outside world and he reaffirmed the country’s commitment to comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable agricultural development under a policy of equitable development for both rural and urban people.
9. The President acknowledged the important role that FAO plays in promoting food security and agricultural development in the region. He reiterated that China would continue close cooperation with FAO and other countries in the region to achieve the goals established by the World Food Summit and the Millennium Development Goals.
10. The text of the inaugural address of President Hu Jintao is given in Appendix D of this report.
11. Delegates unanimously elected Mr Niu Dun, Director-General, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture of China, as Chairperson of the Senior Officers Meeting. They also elected all the heads of delegations of Vice-Ministerial and Secretary of Agriculture rank as Vice-Chairpersons of the Senior Officers Meeting, and Mr Tissa Warnasuriya, of Sri Lanka, as Rapporteur.
12. His Excellency Mr Du Qinglin, Minister of Agriculture of China, was elected as the Chairperson of the Ministerial Meeting. Delegates also elected all the other Ministers present as Vice-Chairpersons of the Conference, and Dato Siti Balkish binte Shariff, of Malaysia, as Rapporteur of the Conference.
13. The Conference adopted the agenda, which is given in Appendix A. Documents submitted to the Conference are listed in Appendix C.
14. In his statement, Mr Jacques Diouf noted that the Conference was taking place at a time when global progress in reducing the number of undernourished in the world seemed to have stalled. While the number of hungry people had declined by 37 million in the first half of the 1990s, the number had actually increased by 18 million in the second half of the decade, and there were still around 840 million undernourished people in the world.
15. The Director-General noted that progress had been better in Asia and the Pacific, especially in East and Southeast Asia. The total number of undernourished in the region had fallen by 62 million during the 1990s. Throughout the region, the annual increase in agricultural output had reached 2.9 percent during the 1990s, compared with population growth of 1.4 percent. Trade in agricultural commodities had mushroomed, especially for higher valued products. Such market-driven farming had produced important knock-on effects in the storage, processing, packaging and distribution sectors, thus expanding employment and reducing poverty.
16. The Director-General highlighted the need for restructuring the agricultural sector, decentralizing and devolving governance, improving natural resources management, and enhancing research and development and extension. He called for commitment in pursuing the Doha Development Agenda for the agricultural sector, emphasizing that fair trade was essential for rural development and food security. He also stressed the need for dramatic increases in national budget allocations and external aid to accelerate progress in reducing hunger.
17. A complete text of the Director-General’s statement is given in Appendix E.
18. His Excellency Ambassador Aziz Mekouar, Independent Chairperson of the FAO Council addressed the Conference. He described several of FAO’s initiatives aimed at achieving the World Food Summit goals, including the International Alliance Against Hunger, Anti-Hunger Programme, Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS), Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS), Initiative to Review and Update National Strategies for Food Security and Agricultural Development and the Programme for Bridging the Rural Digital Divide to Reduce Food Insecurity and Poverty. Ambassador Mekouar highlighted the importance of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in supporting these and other programmes in the region.
19. The Ministerial-level Session of the Conference was convened from 19 to 21 May. It involved the full delegations of all participating countries and organizations, including 17 Ministers of agriculture.
20. Mr He Changchui, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific (ADG/RR) reported on the major FAO activities in the region over the past biennium.1 He emphasized the interrelated aspects of FAO’s work through consultations and expert meetings, training and workshops, policy advice, project and programme formulation, investment mobilization, technical support for field projects, support for national and regional organizations and associations, publication of guidelines and technical papers, and strengthening of regional partnerships and alliances. The Conference appreciated FAO’s activities and result-oriented outputs in the region and called on FAO to intensify its efforts in line with the Regional Strategic Framework that had been formulated to translate FAO’s Strategic Framework 2000-2015 into regional action. The Conference also urged FAO to further decentralize and enhance regional capabilities to better address regional priorities.
21. Detailed summaries of the senior officers’ discussions related to follow-up to the World Food Summit (WFS) and the World Food Summit: five years later (WFS:fyl) and the South Pacific Regional Strategy for Food Security were presented to the Ministers and other delegates. The summaries highlighted the key elements of the deliberations and the recommendations made by the senior officers.
22. Mr Tissa Warnasuriya, Rapporteur of the Senior Officers Meeting, introduced the report of the Senior Officers Meeting to the Ministerial-level Session and summarized the key findings and recommendations resulting from the deliberations during that part of the Conference. The Ministers and other delegates endorsed the findings and recommendations of the Senior Officers Meeting, which comprise an integral part of this Conference report.
23. In validating and reinforcing the conclusions and recommendations made by the senior officers, the Ministers and other delegates universally expressed concern over the slow pace in reducing the number of undernourished in the world. The Conference called on all member countries, working in close cooperation with international organizations, to urgently re-energize political commitment and increase resources to ensure food security for all.
24. Numerous challenges and constraints in the pursuit of food security were cited by the Ministers and other delegates. Particular attention was drawn to difficulties arising from growing populations and food demand, globalization, market access and associated trade-related challenges, natural and man-made disasters, civil strife, inadequate rural infrastructure, shrinking farm lands, degradation of forests and declining fish stocks.
25. The Conference noted the many special challenges of the Pacific Island Countries, including their distance from markets, reliance on imports to supply many basic commodities, reliance on a narrow base of exports, susceptibility to natural disasters, lack of infrastructure and low levels of investment. The Conference requested FAO, other international organizations and donors to provide targeted support to address these challenges through early warning systems, disaster preparedness and management, appropriate agricultural production systems, value-added processing, marketing and policy support. The Conference urged specific support for the South Pacific Regional Programme for Food Security.
26. Ministers and other delegates recognized a broad range of strategies and mechanisms to enhance food security and alleviate rural poverty. Particular focus was given to the roles of sound agricultural strategies and policies, increased domestic food production and stockholding, fair and equitable trade, sustainable management of natural resources, integrated water resources management, prevention and management of pests and transboundary diseases, dissemination and application of appropriate technologies, participatory approaches and partnerships with local communities and local organizations, empowerment of the rural poor including women, effective research and development, rural credit, post-harvest and processing technologies, improved food distribution, creation of off-farm rural employment and harmonization of plant quarantine and food safety standards.
27. Ministers and delegates attached great importance to fair and equitable trade to enhance food security and reduce poverty. The Conference looked to the multilateral trade negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda to reduce international trade distortions and provide increased opportunities for developing countries. The Conference urged all countries to demonstrate flexibility and commitment in advancing multilateral agricultural trade reform. FAO was requested to continue strengthening capacities for multilateral and bilateral agricultural trade negotiations.
28. The Conference stressed the valuable roles of FAO in supporting member countries’ efforts to achieve food security. Particular attention was given to the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS), FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), early warning systems, integrated pest management (IPM), integrated water resources management, FIVIMS, standard-setting bodies such as the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and CODEX, strengthening capacities for meeting sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirements and trade-related technical and policy assistance. The Conference encouraged FAO to further strengthen mechanisms for exchanging technical knowledge and experience through South-South Cooperation, Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC), regional networking, and other partnerships.
29. The Conference highlighted the importance of sustainable management of fisheries and forest resources. It expressed concern over the continuing depletion of these resources in the region, especially as a result of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, and illegal logging. The Conference urged FAO to strengthen its support for the development and effective implementation of national and international plans of action, codes and guidelines for responsible fishery and forestry practices, and efforts to eliminate unsustainable fishing and logging. The Conference requested FAO to continue its facilitating role as Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests under the United Nations Forum on Forests.
30. The Ministers and delegates welcomed the decision of the United Nations General Assembly in declaring 2004 as the International Year of Rice (IYR), with the theme “Rice is Life”. Given the special importance of rice in Asia and the Pacific, the Conference urged member countries and FAO to make good use of the opportunities presented by the IYR to highlight and strengthen the contributions of the rice sector in ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods.
31. The Conference was concerned that declining FAO budgets were seriously constraining the Organization’s ability to carry out its mandate. The Conference encouraged donor countries to meet the commitments made in Monterrey and other fora to provide 0.7 percent of GDP as official development assistance. All member countries were urged to collectively develop innovative approaches and mechanisms to overcome the funding constraints affecting the region.
32. A representative of the pre-Conference NGO/CSO consultation, “From Agenda to Action – Follow-up to the NGO/CSO Forum on Food Sovereignty,” presented a statement to the Conference summarizing the results of the consultation. The statement is given in Appendix F.
33. The Conference considered the importance of rice in the region and assessed the key trends and issues related to rice in agriculture and rural development, noting the timeliness and relevance of the topic in light of 2004 having been designated the International Year of Rice.2
34. The Conference acknowledged the significance of rice farming in Asia and the Pacific, noting that it is grown in 26 of the 43 member countries, occupies one-fifth of the region’s arable and permanent crop land, and provides part-time employment for approximately 300 million people. The Conference also noted that rice provides fully one-third of the total dietary energy and protein for half of the world’s population.
35. The delegates noted that population pressures and necessity for increased production had led to over-exploitation of natural resources in some areas, resulting in land degradation and deterioration of the environment, and subsequent challenges for sustainable rice production. Employment and income generating prospects had also become limited for millions of marginal rice-growing households. Delegates noted the basic challenge of supplying a steadily increasing demand for rice using technologies that require less land, less water, less labour and fewer chemicals.
36. Despite the problems and challenges, delegates were encouraged by the strengths and resiliency of the rice sector. Advances in diversification, biotechnology, crop-livestock and crop-fisheries synergies, integrated pest management, nutrient and water management systems and crop simulation modelling were notable examples.
37. The Conference acknowledged the importance of restructuring the rice sector toward more cost-efficient and sustainable production. The delegates noted, however, that such restructuring could entail considerable hardships and disruptions in the near term. They concluded that most rice-producing countries would therefore attempt to implement transitional approaches that focused on near-term poverty alleviation while simultaneously laying the foundation for longer-term restructuring of the sector, and remaining mindful of the specific issues and needs of resource-poor and marginal farm communities.
38. The Conference urged member countries to undertake the necessary restructuring of the rice sector, to the maximum extent possible, within an enabling environment of political commitment, participatory governance, freedom from civil unrest, macro-economic stability and gender sensitivity.
39. The Conference recognized the need for interventions in technology, management, institutions and human resources, i.e. the four pillars of sustainable agriculture and rural development. While acknowledging the need for a broad range of actions, the Conference recommended that FAO and member countries assess the needs, both at national and regional levels, and further prioritize the required interventions.
40. To help rationalize approaches, the Conference encouraged member countries to classify rice lands according to those targeted for: (i) productivity enhancement and stabilization, (ii) rehabilitation, and (iii) shifting away from rice cultivation. This would enable governments and others to plan and invest more rationally.
41. The Conference highlighted the importance of implementing integrated management practices for increasing the productivity of rice-based cropping systems while simultaneously protecting the environment. The Conference requested FAO to assist member countries in implementing such integrated approaches by upgrading technologies, improving farm management, arresting and reversing land degradation, reducing air and water pollution, enhancing water-use efficiency, increasing access to land, strengthening institutions for participatory governance, improving access to financing, supporting cost-efficient marketing and other support services, and further developing capacity for sustainable rice production.
42. Delegates stressed the importance of creating on-farm, off-farm and non-farm jobs and value-adding income opportunities as key elements of programmes to alleviate poverty in the rice sector. The Conference requested FAO to provide continuing technical support to member countries in implementing relevant programmes for diversifying rural economies in ways that would lead to more sustainable agriculture and rural development.
43. Recognizing the increasingly important role of agricultural trade, the Conference requested FAO to assist member countries in analyzing rice-commodity trade, accessing relevant market information, and adjusting to trade liberalization, particularly within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
44. Noting the large pre- and post-harvest losses in the rice sector, the Conference requested FAO to provide continuing technical support to member countries for efforts to reduce such losses through improved technology and management.
45. Delegates noted the frequency of natural disasters in the region, the devastating impacts such disasters often have on rice production, and the risk of subsequent shortages of crucial food stocks. The Conference urged member countries to carefully prepare for such disasters and take measures to mitigate the negative impacts.
46. The Conference emphasized the importance of cooperation among rice-producing and rice-consuming countries in promoting collaborative activities in areas such as quality improvement, grading and standardization, food safety, and trade promotion, which would serve to expand markets and raise incomes for producers. Similarly, joint research and development efforts were seen as an effective way to boost productivity, income and sustainability gains. FAO was thus requested to increase its efforts in facilitating such collaboration through networks and consortiums, especially within the framework of the International Alliance Against Hunger. The Conference also urged FAO to work closely with relevant institutions of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and to increase support for strengthening national agricultural research systems in the region.
47. Noting the budget constraints of most countries and international organizations, particularly FAO, the Conference urged member countries and FAO to prioritize actions and to seek support and collaboration through innovative and cost-efficient approaches including extra-budgetary support, Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) and other South-South cooperation mechanisms.
48. The Conference reviewed and discussed the key issues and opportunities related to agriculture extension in Asia and the Pacific.3 Delegates noted that recent developments and trends have had both positive and negative influences on agriculture extension in the region.
49. The Conference acknowledged that agriculture extension had made important contributions in the past by linking research with farmers and by transferring new technologies to farmers and rural communities. Recently, however, agriculture extension had come under critical assessment, with publicly funded extension services and systems particularly scrutinized with regard to cost-effectiveness and efficiency. Approaches had been criticized for sometimes being top-down, prescriptive, supply-driven, and catering to resource-rich farmers instead of those most needy. The Conference agreed, however, that despite these weaknesses, agriculture extension services were still necessary, but that they required strengthening and reorientation.
50. The Conference agreed that globalization, trade liberalization, commercialization of agriculture, as well as poverty and income disparity, had increased demands on agriculture extension systems. There was now more need to provide comprehensive information on resources, strategies, programmes, knowledge bases, technologies and processes to allow farmers to help themselves.
51. The Conference recommended that member countries and donor organizations increase budgetary allocations for agriculture extension and reorient extension services to allow them to effectively address the changing requirements and trends facing agriculture and extension. FAO was requested to examine the correlation between trends in extension spending and changes in the number of farmers engaged in agriculture.
52. In view of the changing requirements and opportunities in agriculture extension, FAO was requested to provide advice to member countries on the most effective agriculture extension approaches and delivery mechanisms and to support measures for strengthening the capacity of national agriculture extension services. The Conference urged FAO to develop a concrete action plan, including prioritization of recommended actions, for supporting member countries in reorienting agriculture extension services and strengthening extension capabilities.
53. Delegates stressed that priority in agriculture extension must be given to helping the most vulnerable groups. In this regard, the Conference urged member countries and international organizations to ensure that agriculture extension is effectively geared toward supporting small-scale and resource-poor farmers, including ethnic minorities, elderly-headed farming households, women, youth, orphans, AIDS-affected families, physically and mentally disabled and other under-privileged individuals.
54. Delegates recognized that effective agriculture extension can occur only within an enabling environment that holistically addresses all aspects of agricultural policy in a sound manner. The Conference therefore requested FAO to continue providing support and guidance to member countries in reviewing and revising agricultural policies, including agricultural extension policies, as required.
55. Noting that agriculture extension services and support are increasingly being provided by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector, community groups, cooperatives and others, the Conference urged member countries to strengthen partnerships among the various extension service providers and to involve them fully in the delivery of extension support whenever appropriate.
56. Delegates recognized the promising potential of new information communication technologies (ICTs), as exemplified by PestNet in the South Pacific, the ASEAN integrated pest management network, IT centres in India and others. The Conference urged FAO to work with member countries and other partners to identify and share information on “best practices” and methods for making use of these new technologies. The Conference cautioned, however, that advanced ICTs may not be suitable in all circumstances due to weak capacity of farmers and costly infrastructure requirements. In some instances, combining traditional extension methods with new approaches could be appropriate.
57. Recognizing that farmers themselves often possess the most relevant knowledge on agricultural practices and development, the Conference encouraged member countries and FAO to support participatory approaches to information delivery, including farmer-to-farmer exchanges, multi-purpose Farmer Field Schools, etc. The Conference urged member countries to decentralize extension services and devolve resources to local extension service providers whenever possible.
58. The Conference considered regional progress and prospects toward the achievement of the hunger reduction target and other commitments made at the World Food Summit of 1996 and the World Food Summit: five years later (WFS:fyl) held in 2002.4
59. Delegates noted with concern that, although the total number of undernourished people had declined since the World Food Summit (WFS), the global annual net decrease had been only about 2.1 million, or approximately one-tenth the number required to meet the WFS goal of cutting the number of undernourished in half by the year 2015.
60. While appreciating the positive progress of some countries in the region, the Conference noted that the reduction of 6.8 million undernourished per year in Asia and the Pacific had also fallen short of the annual target of 11.8 million. About 16 percent of the region’s population, or every sixth person, remained undernourished, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the world’s total. The Conference further noted that the WFS goal can now be reached only if the annual reductions can be accelerated to around 15 million per year, more than twice the current pace.
61. Delegates recognized that performance in reducing the numbers of undernourished improved with economic and agricultural growth, equitable income distribution, macro-economic stability, poverty reduction, effective management of population growth, improved access to food, progress in health and sanitation conditions, conducive public policies and peace and order. The Conference acknowledged that many of these factors were significantly influenced by natural and man-made disasters, as well as internal and external economic and political circumstances.
62. Delegates recognized the need to intensify efforts to reduce the undernourished population. The Conference supported FAO’s initiatives at the global level to expedite progress in meeting the WFS targets, including the Anti-Hunger Programme, International Alliance Against Hunger, and the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS). The Conference called for increased investments in the fight against hunger, including at national levels and through international support.
63. The Conference urged member countries to adopt a twin-track approach to reducing hunger, combining promotion of rural and agricultural growth with targeted programmes to ensure that hungry people have access to adequate supplies of food. It further recommended that programmes to increase productivity be coupled with efforts to improve the marketing and management skills of producers.
64. Delegates stressed the importance of sound agriculture and trade policies for all countries. In this respect, the Conference supported FAO’s initiative to review and update national agricultural, rural development and food security strategies and policies.
65. Delegates noted with concern the declining flow of financial resources to the agriculture sector, measured both in relation to GDP and in terms of absolute expenditures. The Conference called for increases in agriculture and rural development investments in accord with the goals and commitments of the WFS. Towards this end, the Conference urged all countries to urgently review and appropriately adjust their public expenditure priorities.
66. Delegates were encouraged by the continuing efforts to resolve differences among the World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries in the post-Cancún period. The Conference encouraged all member countries to contribute to the achievement of substantial improvements in market access, and reduction of export subsidies and trade-distorting domestic support in line with commitments that they made at the Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar.
67. Appreciating the important role of international trade in enhancing food security and rural livelihoods, the Conference requested FAO to continue its support in strengthening national capacities to analyze trade issues, assist countries in formulating and updating national trade legislation, facilitate regional and sub-regional information sharing related to trade negotiations, and assist countries in enhancing competitiveness in terms of price and quality of products.
68. Delegates stressed the importance of member countries in assuming responsibility for advancing efforts to reduce hunger in their own countries. In this regard, the Conference encouraged member countries that were lagging behind in meeting the WFS goals to assess their national performance vis-a-vis the national and international commitments made earlier and provide the necessary political will to progress. Countries were requested to identify important gaps in policies, resource allocation and implementation capacities.
69. The Conference recommended that member countries that had not yet prepared national food and nutrition security strategies, with time-bound action plans, should do so as quickly as possible, followed by effective support for implementation. To maximize positive impacts, the Conference urged member countries to mainstream food security as a national priority within national development policy frameworks and investment programmes, including country poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSPs).
70. The Conference encouraged countries to improve safety nets against hunger, including public distribution systems and school feeding programmes. Countries were also urged to strengthen programmes for rural income and employment generation.
71. Recognizing the potential to gain from the positive experiences of countries that had achieved success in reducing the number of undernourished, the Conference requested FAO to work with such countries in undertaking case studies to identify the elements of success that might be disseminated and promoted more widely.
72. The Conference gave particular attention to recent efforts to develop and implement a sub-regional strategy for food security in the South Pacific through the Regional Programme for Food Security.5
73. Delegates recognized the unique features and special challenges facing the Pacific Island Countries (PICs). They noted that about 80 percent of the population of the PICs live in rural areas and depend heavily on agriculture. Agricultural exports comprise more than 50 percent of all exports, yet most PICs are net importers of food. Challenges facing the PICs included remoteness, dispersed populations, vulnerability to disasters, fragility of ecosystems, and over-dependence on external economic factors and forces.
74. The Conference noted the objectives of the Regional Strategy for Food Security, and its implementation through the South Pacific Programme for Food Security (RPFS), which had been developed with support from FAO and endorsed by all PICs. It particularly recognized the relevance of the key components aimed at enhancing food production and strengthening agricultural trade and policy.
75. The Conference recommended that FAO, and other international organizations support fully the implementation of the RPFS. At the same time, the Conference emphasized the importance of clear and focused national strategies for food security to maximize the impact of the RPFS. The Conference therefore urged PICs to develop and implement such strategies, including prioritization of actions, and establish time frames and mechanisms for adequate financing.
76. The Conference requested FAO and other international organizations to work with PICs to enhance capacity for agriculture marketing and trade, focusing on policy analysis, marketing and information systems and market access, including issues in relation to the WTO, sanitary and phytosanitory measures and product quality.
77. The Conference urged FAO and other international organizations to provide increased technical assistance to PICs for environmentally sound agricultural development, including support for improved soil and nutrient management, crop-livestock farming systems, agroforestry, seed production, efficient water use, environmental protection and natural resource conservation, and management of fisheries and aquaculture resources.
78. The Conference appreciated the positive support for the implementation of the RPFS through carefully targeted South-South Cooperation and encouraged continued collaboration through such cost-effective mechanisms.
79. A Roundtable on Financing for Agricultural Development was convened as a parallel meeting on 18 May 2004.6 A report of the parallel meeting is given in Appendix G.
80. The Conference was informed of recent developments and implications related to seed policy and regulations, especially as related to international regulatory frameworks and multilateral agreements such as the Global Plan of Action, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the International Plant Protection Convention and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity.7
81. The Conference was informed by the United States delegation that US$50,000 had been provided to FAO for the purpose of convening an international expert meeting on the Materials Transfer Agreement and FAO had been urged to convene the expert meeting as soon as the required additional funds for the meeting could be secured.
82. The Conference was briefed on the progress related to the Global Strategy for Animal Genetic Resources and the preparation of the first Report on the State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources.8 The delegates were informed that substantial progress had been made in compiling the report, but the completion of country reports is behind the schedule established by the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) due to the time needed to mobilize extra-budgetary resources for essential training and supporting mechanisms.
83. The Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources (ITWG-AnGR) had recommended that a report on strategies for action be prepared based on existing draft country reports. The ITWG-AnGR had further recommended that the priorities for action be presented to countries in regional meetings in 2005, with the actual Report on the State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources to be considered by the CGRFA in its session in 2006 and considered for endorsement by a technical conference in 2007. The ITWG-AnGR had encouraged countries to continue supporting national and regional focal points who are coordinating the work and providing inputs.
84. The Conference was informed of ongoing activities related to the International Year of Rice (IYR), which the United Nations General Assembly had designated under the theme “Rice is Life”, to focus the world’s attention on the contributions that rice makes toward food security and alleviating poverty.9 The delegates were further informed on the role of FAO as the lead UN agency for implementing the IYR, in collaboration with UNDP, CGIAR centres, national agencies, regional and international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. The Conference was briefed on plans to use the IYR as a catalyst for information exchange and the development of medium- and long-term programmes related to rice in sustainable agriculture and rural development.
85. The Conference was informed of FAO’s ongoing efforts to overcome the rural digital divide that separates those individuals most in need from much of the world’s information and knowledge resources.10 The scope and nature of the programme was presented and linked to various aspects of FAO’s work at national and sub-national levels, through the strengthening of human and institutional capacities.
86. The Conference was informed of various issues related to the impacts of climate change on agriculture in the region.11 Information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, including the potential impacts of climate change on crops, livestock, forests and fisheries, was highlighted. The Conference was reminded that agriculture is affected by climate change, but is also a contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. In this connection, good agricultural practices should be promoted.
87. The Conference was informed of FAO’s ongoing initiative to review and update national agricultural, rural development and food security strategies and policies in line with member countries’ requests.12 Major steps since the launching of the initiative in Asia and the Pacific had included inventorying of current national strategy and policy processes and documents, the preparation of country policy profiles, the convening of national multi-stakeholder workshops, and comprehensive review and update of policies and strategies. Those countries wishing to participate in the initiative were encouraged to request support from FAO.
88. At the request of concerned delegations, the Conference was provided with an overview of the avian influenza outbreak that had affected much of Asia, FAO’s response, and future requirements.
89. Delegates made several suggestions for improving future Senior Officers Meetings and Conferences, including options for making the meetings more inter-active and participatory by convening roundtables and parallel meetings, drawing upon case studies and resource persons from member countries to better illuminate perspectives and experiences, and eliciting more input from delegates on solutions and recommendations for addressing regional issues. Considering the lack of time to discuss the many information items on the agenda, the delegates also requested FAO to provide improved guidance in the future with regard to procedures for addressing discussion items vis-ŕ-vis information items, and urged FAO to link information items with discussion items whenever practical.
90. Delegates were informed by the Secretariat that one purpose of the agenda was to invite views and suggestions for possible topics to discuss at the next Conference to be convened in 2006. Numerous ideas were suggested, including protection of agricultural resources, productivity enhancement, rural poverty alleviation, international trade, food quality and safety, regional capacity building and networking, among others. But it was recognized that the agenda should be fixed closer to the actual dates of the twenty-eighth session, taking into account emerging developments and priorities at that time. The ADG/RR further informed the delegates that the final agenda, as per usual practice, would be decided in close consultation with member countries.
91. The Government of Indonesia graciously informed the Conference of its interest and willingness to host the twenty-eighth Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in 2006. The Government of Afghanistan expressed its wish to host the Conference at some point in the future.
92. The Conference unanimously adopted the report as presented by the Rapporteur.
93. On behalf of the Government of China, His Excellency Mr Du Qingling thanked the participants for their constructive and positive contributions, which had contributed to the success Conference’s success. In closing the Conference, he noted it had advanced the common understanding of the strategies, policies and actions needed to reduce hunger and ensure sustainable rural development throughout the region.
94. Participants expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the people and Government of China for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements in hosting the Conference.
1 APRC/04/6
2 APRC/04/2
3 APRC/04/3
4 APRC/04/4
5 APRC/04/5
6 APRC/04/7
7 APRC/04/INF/5
8 APRC/04/INF/6
9 APRC/04/INF/7
10 APRC/04/INF/8
11 APRC/04/INF/9
12 APRC/04/INF/10
