UN forges links between researchers and farmers to promote food security
Asia-Pacific farmers to get better access to latest technology and training
Bangkok, Thailand, 12 December 2013. Farmers across Asia and the Pacific could soon have access to new and innovative technologies that would help them meet
the region’s demand for increased food production and food security, a UN-convened meeting announced today.
Leaders in agricultural research and extension services from across the Asia-Pacific region and representatives from
civil society, private sector and international organizations today concluded an Expert Consultation on ‘Strengthening
Linkages between Research and Extension to Promote Food and Nutrition Security.’
The consultation, attended by over 40 delegates from more than ten countries, discussed ways to connect research results
and new technologies on food and agriculture production with farmers on the front lines of Asia’s food production
systems. The need for such transference of information is critical. By 2050, the FAO estimates that food production will
need to increase by 60 percent, a target that cannot be met unless we harness our research and transmit it to farmers’
practices.
The consultation was convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (Regional Office for
Asia and the Pacific) and the Centre for Alleviation of Poverty through Sustainable Agriculture (CAPSA), a regional
institute of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The two-day meeting
addressed the current challenges faced by farmers in the region who require stronger support to realize research results
and new agricultural technologies for application in a practical and meaningful way.
The meeting was co-sponsored by the Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), and the
‘Network for Knowledge Transfer on Sustainable Agricultural Technologies and Improved Market Linkages in South and
Southeast Asia’ (SATNET Asia), a European Union-funded project.
An emerging and growing middle class in the Asia-Pacific region, which co-exists with persistent hunger in many
countries, is demanding a system of more diverse and quality food production and processing. Meeting those demands will
require more meat, dairy, fruit and vegetable products. In this context, it is important for farmers to adopt new
agriculture technology, but they will require technical assistance in order to do so.
Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative in Asia and the Pacific notes that the
promotion of agricultural research is important to enable future food production increases and attain food security for
our future generations, even as arable lands are almost fully exploited in the region. “But agricultural research alone
can't produce more food, unless research results and technologies are effectively transmitted to farmers for practical
application,” said Konuma. “Hence the importance of agricultural extension services, through an enhanced participatory
approach, innovative technological application, such as ICT and increased involvement of the private sector. These
approaches must be fully recognized and further promoted,” he added.
Participants agreed upon an Action Framework to guide future efforts of stakeholders in enhancing research-extension
partnerships in the Asia-Pacific Region. In particular, the Framework will contribute to more sustainable food systems
and improved farmers’ productivity, thereby helping address the United Nations ‘Zero Hunger Challenge’ – a global
initiative that encourages all partners to scale up their efforts and turn the vision of an end to hunger into a
reality. The Action Framework highlights both national efforts as well as regional collaboration to overcome common
challenges.
“We urgently need to rebalance our investment priorities and policies in order to give more attention to the development
of agriculture and the rural sector,” said Shun-ichi Murata, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP.
"The creation of a regional network for agricultural extension will ultimately benefit small farmers, fishermen,
pastoralists and foresters in this region by strengthening the interface between research and the users of research,"
said Dr. Katinka Weinberger during the closing session of the Expert Consultation.
The meeting also assessed existing linkages between research and extension systems in member countries to identify
opportunities for enhancing their integration. The important role of farmers' groups, civil society and private sector
organizations, including information and communications technology service providers was particularly highlighted in
this context.
ENDS