News and Press Releases
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations have today launched a “National Strategy on Women in Agriculture Development”.
The Strategy document was signed by H. E. Assadullah Zamir, Minister for MAIL and Tomio Shichiri, FAO Representative in Afghanistan. It was developed as part of the project, “Strengthening the Role of Women in Agriculture Development,” funded by the Government of...
FAO and China announce second phase of programme to boost agribusiness in Uganda
South-South sharing of knowledge and best-practices in food production and agribusiness to expand
26.09.2015 Rome
FAO, China and Uganda have signed a two year agreement worth almost $2.5 million to support small-scale farmers in Uganda in boosting their production, including through sustainable technologies. The agreement marks the second phase of a partnership initially established in 2012 to make training and technical advice available to the Ugandan agriculture sector. The agreement was developed in the context of the FAO-China South-South Cooperation (SSC) Programme, which was established in 2009...
Asia-Pacific countries intensify training in statistical analysis for food security data
22.09.2015 Bangkok, Thailand
Countries with high incidence of under-nourishment in Asia and the Pacific have taken another step forward in a determined effort to improve their ability to collect and analyze food security statistics, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization announced today.
Food and agricultural statistics are diverse and complex subjects which cover a variety of data on crops, livestock, fish and forestry sub-sectors.
Hosted by the Royal Thai Government, FAO has convened a five-day...
Severe food insecurity on the rise in Afghanistan – “extremely alarming trend” -- UN and partner agencies release new assessment
10.09.2015 Kabul, Afghanistan
The number of people in Afghanistan resorting to selling land or turning to friends or family for help because of food insecurity has doubled in the last year, according to a joint report released today by UN and partner agencies.
The 2015 Seasonal Food Security Assessment in Afghanistan (SFSA), published by the country’s Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC), found that at the peak of the lean season the number of Afghans facing severe food...
Myanmar floods deal major blow to country’s agriculture
While assessments are underway, situation remains largely ignored by international community
03.09.2015 Yangon
Heavy storms, floods and landslides across nearly all provinces in Myanmar have dealt a major blow to the country’s agriculture and are expected to severely limit the availability of food if aid is not provided to farmers swiftly, FAO warned today.
Urgent support is needed to help farmers recover from a month of extreme monsoon weather, worsened by the arrival of Cyclone Komen at the end of July. That has affected...
Eight countries to sharpen long-term climate change adaptation strategies
FAO and UNDP join forces under German-funded initiative to raise profile of agriculture in climate change planning
02.09.2015 Rome/Bangkok
A new UN programme funded by Germany will help eight developing countries revamp and strengthen their adaptation responses to climate change.
Through the Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans programme, FAO and UNDP will work with ministries of agriculture in Nepal, Kenya, the Philippines, Thailand, Uganda, Uruguay, Viet Nam and Zambia to incorporate agricultural sectors into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) in order to safeguard livelihoods, raise agricultural production and boost food...
Saving soil – International conference calls for greater action to stop the degradation of soils so vital to food security and a stable environment
21.08.2015 Cha Am, Thailand
Scientists from around the world today called for greater action on the protection of soils – a complex mix of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and the other organisms vital for our survival.
Researchers, government officials, UN agencies and resource partners from four continents met for four days in the Thai seaside resort of Cha Am to consider ways to improve the sustainable uses of soil in harmony with food security. Her Royal...
The following is a statement from the United Nations and its Specialized Agencies based in Thailand
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and all of us at the United Nations were shocked to learn of the explosion Monday evening in Bangkok close to the Erawan shrine in Rajaprasong. The Secretary-General and the entire United Nations Country Team in Thailand, as well as all United Nations personnel, join together to express our condolences to the...
Countries in the Pacific Islands are susceptible to natural disasters. While disasters have always occurred, indications suggest that their frequency and intensity are increasing. In particular, climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and intensity of disaster events in the future.
This increase of frequency and intensity of natural disasters requires a more holistic approach in dealing with natural disasters.
In response to increasing losses of life and damage to property,...
Helping to rebuild after Tropical Cyclone Maysak
14.08.2015 Federated States of Micronesia
FAO Disaster Risk Management and Resilience Work in FSM is continuing 4months after Tropical Cyclone Maysak struck the Federated States of Micronesia.
Approximately 30 000 people on 36 islands were affected by destructive winds and torrential rainfall when Tropical Cyclone Maysak struck Chuuk State on 28-29 March and Yap State on 1 April. Agriculture and infrastructure were seriously affected in both states, with many islands having suffered at least 90 percent damage to staple...