..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 25 July 2005
Press Release No: G/17/2005

Agriculture is becoming a Safety Net in Asia

Identification of Pulling Factors for Enhancing Sustainable Development of Diverse Agriculture in Selected Asian Countries

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) -- Sustainable Agricultural Development in Asia was the focus of a two-day meeting organized by a UNESCAP regional institution, the Centre for Alleviation of Poverty through Secondary Crops’ Development in Asia and the Pacific (CAPSA).

On July 19-20 2005, experts in agricultural economics from nine Asian countries gathered in Bogor, Indonesia to attend the "Identification of Pulling Factors for Enhancing Sustainable Development of Diverse Agriculture in Selected Asian Countries" (AGRIDIV)

The aim of the meeting was to present and discuss research findings of country and regional study in phase 2 of AGRIDIV, a three year project funded by Government of Japan. AGRIDIV aims to formulate policies to help alleviate poverty through secondary crop development and sustainable diversified agriculture in Asia.

“There is ample evidence that poor communities’ dependence on secondary crops is increasing. Government involvement in the form of technological support and aiding market access is vital,” UNESCAP’s Executive Secretary Mr. Kim Hak-Su said.

Experts argued that agriculture is a safety net in Asia and shared the results of extensive surveys conducted in eight Asian countries. The consensus was that since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, rural poverty has risen in almost all countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Crop rotation, technological support and investment, training and market access can help farmers supplement their diet and income with secondary crops,” Mr. Kim Hak-Su said.

Recent reports found rising levels of malnutrition and under nutrition, especially in resource poor regions. The meeting aims to promote secondary crops such as maize, pulses, cassava and potato, which supplement the diets of the rural poor.

The next workshop on this issue, "Rural Prosperity and secondary crops towards applied pro-poor research and policies in Asia and the Pacific", will take place in 9 December 2005.

Further information please contact:

Mr. Tomohide Sugino
ESCAP CAPSA
Jalan Merdeka 145, Bogor 16111, Indonesia
Tel 62-251-343277; Fax 62-251-336290
Email: agridiv@uncapsa.org; tosugino@jircas.affrc.go.jp
http://www.UNCAPSA.org/

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