News and Press Releases
Strengthening ASEAN’s agri-industry through the empowerment of women
23.11.2015 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ASEAN countries could boost productivity of their agribusinesses simply by improving opportunities for women to participate in the sector on an equal footing with men, a senior UN official said.
“Women account for half of the world’s population and about a quarter of its agricultural labour force, yet many rural women remain marginalized and their productive potential in many countries of the Asia-Pacific region is woefully underutilized,” said Kundhavi Kadiresan, Assistant...
Kundhavi Kadiresan, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, makes Official visit to Bangladesh
17.11.2015 Dhaka, Bangladesh
Kundhavi Kadiresan, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, travelled to Bangladesh, 13 – 17 November, to participate in the Bangladesh Development Forum (BDF) 2015. Her participation followed an invitation from the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance.
Kadiresan was joined by Mike Robson, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, along with Nur A Khondaker and Ekramul Haque, both Assistant FAO Representatives.
Kadiresan and the FAO Bangladesh...
Samoa commemorates World Food Day 2015 and FAO 70th Anniversary
30.10.2015 Apia, Samoa
Commemorations for World Food Day 2015 and FAO 70th Anniversary took place in FAO member countries throughout the Pacific.
In Samoa, the celebrations took place at the opening of the Agriculture & Fisheries Show hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Samoa.
“The Agriculture Show’s aim is to show-case the best of agricultural commodities and products that are produced in the agricultural sector”. Said Minister of Agriculture. Hon. Le Mamea...
Exploring ecotourism development for Samoa
30.10.2015 Savai'i, Samoa
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) and communities from the island of Savai’i are partnering to explore development of ecotourism.
This development is one component of a regional project on ‘Forestry and Protected Management ‘facilitated by the Global Environment Facility Pacific Alliance for Sustainability. The project aims to enhance sustainable livelihoods for local communities living...
FAO welcomes new technical officer to Samoa
30.10.2015 Apia, Samoa
The FAO Subregional office of the Pacific Island is pleased to welcome Jessica Sanders, who is now a Fisheries Officer in Apia, Samoa. Jessica joins the Subregional office following 10 years in FAO Rome where she worked for the Policy, Institutions and Economics Service of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. Jessica holds a Master Degree in International Environmental Policy and a BA in Environmental Studies.
Jessica brings experience in policy and...
Grim picture of destruction caused by Myanmar floods. Huge livestock and paddy losses
Joint FAO/WFP News Release
20.10.2015 Yangon, Myanmar
Recent flooding in Myanmar had a devastating impact on agricultural livelihoods and food security, according to a joint Government-United Nations report released today. Nearly 470 000 hectares of rice paddy were affected and almost a quarter of a million livestock were killed, including poultry, cattle, pigs and goats, when Cyclone Komen struck Myanmar in late July and early August this year.
Rice was the most affected crop, with some parts of...
On World Food Day, FAO in Asia-Pacific celebrates gains made in reducing hunger but calls for expansion of social protection to break the cycle of rural poverty
16.10.2015 Bangkok, Thailand
This year’s World Food Day (16 October) is celebrated across Asia and the Pacific, buoyed by gains made in reducing hunger and poverty, but with a realization that 12 percent of the region’s population remain undernourished – and without access to social protection.
Almost 80 percent of the world’s poor live in rural areas, most of them working in the agriculture sector, often in small-holdings or for mere subsistence. When a...
FAO and Xinhua News Agency sign global communication partnership
New agreement to highlight food issues to audiences in China and beyond
15.10.2015
China's national news agency Xinhua is the latest news outlet to partner with FAO to raise awareness on hunger and food-related issues.
Speaking at a signing ceremony marking the new agreement, FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva recognized the critical role of media in communicating FAO’s areas of work to a wide audience and the unique position of Xinhua to reach out to millions of people.
“This is one of the...
Appointment of new FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific
14.10.2015 Bangkok, Thialand
The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, José Graziano da Silva, has appointed Ms Kundhavi Kadiresan to the post of Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific.
Kadiresan, an Indian national, has more than 25 years of senior managerial experience in economic and policy development.She holds a Ph.D in Economics and an MBA in International Business.
With a focus on delivering high-quality value-for-money...
Genetic makeup of thousands of rice varieties placed in global seed data pool
Information provided to international treaty to help develop more sustainable crops
08.10.2015 Rome
Genome sequences of more than 3,000 rice varieties have been placed with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) by the world's leading rice research institute in a move boosting plans to set up a global data exchange system for crop genetic resources.
The Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Treaty (ITPGRFA) made the announcement at the 6th session of the Governing Body of...