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An FAO-funded emergency project will complement Thai government’s efforts to support flood-affected farmers in eight provinces to save their farm animals and go back to their fields as soon as possible through the provision of agricultural and livestock inputs amounting to some Baht 12 million (US$ 400 000). Thailand was severely affected by the floods since mid-August and flooded areas are currently estimated at over 12.5 percent of Thailand’s total land...

Invited to participate in the International Horticultural Exposition Royal Flora Rachaphreuk 2011 by the department of agriculture of the Thai ministry of agriculture and cooperatives, FAO showcased key achievements and issues related to sustainable agriculture through a small exhibition at the Expo Center 2 during the period 14 to 26 December 2012. The main concepts of the Royal Flora 2011, 3Gs – generation, garden and greenitude – and 3Rs – reuse,...

With training on rice intensification and the provision of seed and fertilizers, a smallholder farmer from Kailali district in far-western Nepal, has more than doubled his yield and generated an income. In past years, Mr Upadhya was obliged to migrate in search of employment as his 0.16 hectare plot of land failed to produce enough to meet his family’s basic needs. Working as a porter or watchman in India, he returned to...

FAO and ESCAP are calling for entries of case studies that document best practices of existing and innovative as well as cost-effective and sustainable solutions to achieve economic, food and water security within a green growth process in Asia-Pacific. Solutions will contribute to developing a framework for action towards economic, food and water security in the region. They will include processes for reviewing broad social, economic and environment objectives through a...

At the end of a two days FAO meeting, experts and key stakeholders coming from over 30 Asian countries agreed on the steps necessary for improving the region’s food and nutrition security, and established a network to stimulate multi-stakeholders cooperation. Despite significant progress and increased prosperity,Asiahas made insufficient progress in reducing hunger and malnutrition. While the number of poor has fallen dramatically—from about 1.4 billion in 1990 to 900 million in...

With ever more people to feed in the future, there is no alternative but to increase agricultural productivity in order to meet global food, feed and biofuel demands and to alleviate hunger and poverty.  This scenario for agricultural intensification and mechanization, however, poses great challenges forAsiawhere land and water resources have reached their limits for agricultural and other outputs. In addition, future crop production intensification must not only reduce the impact of...

Despite significant progress and increased prosperity, Asia has made insufficient progress in reducing hunger and malnutrition. While the number of poor has fallen dramatically—from about 1.4 billion in 1990 to about 900 million in 2005—the number of undernourished has remained close to 600 million. With underweight prevailing in around one in three children, the region has around 100 million children under the age of five suffering from stunting – in particular...

An assessment conducted by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) indicates an improvement in the main annual harvest for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) compared to 2010 but highlights ongoing concerns over the nutrition situation, particularly among young children. The joint FAO/WFP report, published today, estimates that while harvests are expected to increase by about 8.5 percent over last year, the country will still...

Participants at an international workshop on information and knowledge management (IKM) for agricultural development were urged to move beyond strategies and undertake relevant action-oriented programmes. In his opening address, Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Colonel Mason Smith, said that participants should implement the strategies they come up with during the workshop. He also mentioned that this workshop was very timely, given the many challenges that the agriculture sector faces, especially those...