http://www.webremixed.info/ Aggregation of tags: cooperacion-tecnica Webremixer http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37786 From 6 to 8 December 2007, representatives from all ten countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States convened for a workshop on “Sharing Experiences on Agricultural Investment Project Implementation in the CIS”, held near Moscow. The workshop was organized by the FAO Investment Centre. The aim was to promote communication among national and international staff working in Project Implementation Units (PIUs), donor agencies and FAO, on factors for success and major difficulties and constraints in project implementation in the CIS region. Participants came from over 20 PIUs in the ten countries. The Centre was represented by the Director, Mr Charles Riemenschneider, a Senior Adviser, Ms Eugenia Serova, and the Service Chief responsible for investment support work in CIS countries, Mr Claudio Gregorio, who briefed participants on the FAO Investment Centre’s mandate, objectives and achievements, and illustrated the emerging challenges and opportunities for its work in the CIS region. Salient features of the workshop included: The representatives from the World Bank and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) addressed major challenges faced by international financing institutions in the region, and possible implications for strategic priorities and future project pipeline development. High-level experts from Armenia, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, and from the UN Development Programme in Ukraine, presented their views on previous experience with public investment projects in the region, and gave an overview of their country strategies in agriculture development. General issues on project implementation in the CIS region were a subject of intensive debate. Working groups were also convened to review experiences in five specific areas: rural development, rural finance, value chains, advisory services, and irrigation and drainage. The workshop provided feedback to the Investment Centre to draw conclusions which will contribute to the improvement of its work with governments and financing partners in the CIS region. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:50:40 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37786 2008-04-04T16:50:40Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//38032 Face à l’escalade des prix alimentaires dans le monde, des responsables gouvernementaux d’Europe de l’Est et de l'ancienne Union soviétique examinent avec des dirigeants de l'agroalimentaire privé des propositions pour renforcer les investissements agricoles et débloquer le potentiel inexploité de l'agriculture dans leur région. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:07:30 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//38032 2008-03-10T18:07:30Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//38017 El incremento de los ingresos por la exportación de petróleo puede ser una excelente oportunidad para aumentar la inversión pública en agricultura en Oriente Próximo, una región que se enfrenta a inseguridad alimentaria, degradación de los suelos, escasez de agua, enfermedades animales y una factura muy alta por las importaciones alimentarias, señaló hoy el Director General de la FAO, Jacques Diouf. Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:04:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//38017 2008-03-05T12:04:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37990 En dépit des restrictions qui entravent les importations d’intrants essentiels, la FAO aide à restaurer la production agricole et à améliorer les moyens d’existence des agriculteurs dans la bande de Gaza par une série de projets d’urgence. Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:23:51 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37990 2008-02-26T18:23:51Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37882 Dans le cadre de son Fonds fiduciaire pour la sécurité alimentaire, la FAO vient de lancer plusieurs projets visant à impulser un nouvel élan à la production agricole et aux marchés dans cinq pays africains qui comptent parmi les plus pauvres de la planète. Cette initiative est financée à hauteur de 10 millions de dollars par l’Italie. Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:03:16 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37882 2008-01-21T12:03:16Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37852 Tout en exprimant leur “plus profonde préoccupation”, les trois agences des Nations Unies basées à Rome – la FAO, le Programme alimentaire mondial (PAM) et le Fonds international de développement agricole (FIDA) – ont averti, aujourd’hui, que le changement climatique pose un défi de taille à la sécurité alimentaire mondiale et aggravera la faim et la sous-alimentation à moins de passer immédiatement à l’action. Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:16:02 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37852 2008-01-09T18:16:02Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37763 On 20 November, as part of the FAO Conference, the Investment Centre organized a “High Level Special Event on the Financing of Agriculture: Issues, Constraints and Perspectives”. Participants included over 200 delegates, of which a number made interventions emphasising the urgent need to secure increased funding from domestic and external sources for the agriculture sector, particularly in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 1 of halving hunger by 2015. FAO’s Director-General, Mr Jacques Diouf, delivered the welcoming address. He pointed out the lamentable decline in financing for agriculture over the last decade, even though overall Official Development Assistance had increased substantially, and recalled that insufficient investment in agriculture is one of the main constraints to increasing agricultural production. He noted the decline in allocations to agriculture by the main international financing institutions, and pointed out that although Foreign Direct Investment to developing countries had increased enormously over the last 20 years, the share to agriculture was less than 1 percent. Mr Diouf also highlighted that farmers themselves are the largest investors in the sector, with US$18.6 billion invested in 2003. Important points raised by the three keynote speakers included: Mr Rupiah Banda, Vice-President of Zambia, stressed the importance of investing in agriculture in Africa, and referred to private sector initiatives and opportunities for public-private partnerships in the agriculture sector. Mr Jerzy Plewa, Deputy Director-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission, noted that agriculture will receive greater attention under the 10th European Development Fund, with some €3 billion for the sector, focusing on Africa. Improving aid effectiveness and donor coordination through mechanisms such as the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development was at the forefront of the European Union’s political agenda. Mr Akinwumi Adesina, Vice President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, called for innovative financing mechanisms to be found, especially for Africa, and pointed to the renewed political commitment to revitalizing agriculture in Africa, reflected in the Maputo Declaration and support for NEPAD-CAADP. Greater awareness of the impact of rapid intensification on the environment was also needed. The meeting recognized the significant role of Ministers of Finance in allocating resources for public investment in the sector. The utilization of savings from debt relief measures have been allocated predominantly to the social sectors rather than to agriculture. Several delegates raised the issue of use of subsidies to boost agricultural production, and pointed to the positive impact that subsidies could have on the agriculture sector, as noted in many developed countries. Reference was also made to the importance of ensuring that the cost of financing to farmers themselves is reduced and to enhance accessibility and reliability of loans. The Event was chaired by Mr Einar Guofinnsson, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries of Iceland. Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:01:02 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37763 2008-01-09T18:01:02Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37550 L’initiative Aide au commerce devrait se concentrer sur cinq domaines prioritaires afin d’aider les pays pauvres à bénéficier de l’évolution du régime commercial mondial pour les produits agricoles, selon un document de la Conférence de la FAO préparé pour l’Evènement spécial de haut niveau qui s’est tenu pendant la Conférence générale de l’Organisation. L’évènement d’aujourd’hui succède à celui de la nuit dernière sur le Financement de l’agriculture, organisé par le Directeur général de la FAO, Jacques Diouf. Un document de la FAO sur le même sujet a attiré l’attention sur la stagnation de la part de l’aide totale consacrée à l’agriculture qui «en aucune façon ne reflète l’importance de l’agriculture dans le PIB des pays en développement». Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:46:02 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37550 2008-01-09T17:46:02Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37264 The Director-General of FAO, Mr Jacques Diouf, will open a Special Event on Financing for Agriculture, which will take place on 20 November 2007 during the 34th Session of the FAO Conference. The Special Event has been organized by the FAO Investment Centre to assist delegates to the Conference and FAO staff in increasing their awareness on opportunities and ways to reduce hunger and poverty through greater investment in agriculture and rural development. The Special Event Panel addressing the participants will include the President of the Republic of Zambia - the Hon. Mr Patrick L. Mwanawasa, the Minister for Agricultural Development of the Republic of Panama - the Hon. Mr Guillermo Salazar Nicolau, the Deputy Director-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission - Mr Jerzy Plewa, and the Vice-President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa - Mr Akinwumi Adesina. The Hon. Mr Mwanawasa, President of Zambia, will give the keynote address on: “The Challenge of Financing the Transition from Emergency Assistance to Agricultural Rehabilitation and Development”. The discussions will review the current investment climate within the context of international commitments to increasing development aid through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Poverty Reduction Strategy process and the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative. Different types of external financing resources will be explored as well as factors affecting domestic resource mobilization and allocation, and constraints to channelling funds for investment by farmers themselves. Absorptive capacity constraints and the role that aid can play will be addressed as well as the need for innovative financing mechanisms for agriculture. The background information paper: “Financing of Agriculture: Issues, Constraints and Perspectives” is available online in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish. The Arabic link is: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/meeting/012/k0677a.pdf The Chinese link is: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/meeting/012/k0677c.pdf Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:03:39 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37264 2007-11-21T12:03:39Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37150 Rome - Special assistance to Caribbean countries to promote food security and take advantage of trade liberalization while reaping the benefits of new trading opportunities is provided under an innovative FAO project funded by the Government of Italy. Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:13:17 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37150 2007-10-26T17:13:17Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37066 Rome – The United States will support FAO’s avian influenza control and prevention programme with an additional US$38 million, FAO announced today. The United States is one of the biggest donors to the agency’s programme. Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:01:37 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37066 2007-10-18T17:01:37Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37038 Rome – More than 150 countries around the world will observe World Food Day this year, organizing special events, conferences, contests, sports activities and a global candlelight vigil on “The Right to Food” Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:03:09 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//37038 2007-10-16T17:03:09Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36683 Rome - FAO Director-General Dr Jacques Diouf pledged today that FAO will bring all its resources and experience to support flood-affected countries in Africa in rehabilitating their damaged agricultural sector. Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:08:51 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36683 2007-10-02T11:08:51Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36642 Technical Cooperation Department, Rome - FAO’s prompt response in preparing a project blueprint for the construction of irrigation schemes in the drier regions of Myanmar has mobilized US$31.4 million worth of funding from both the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and the Government of Myanmar. Thanks to the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) Facility, FAO was able to quickly mobilize the funds necessary to produce a project formulation report. Insufficient rainfall in the central dry zone Myanmar’s agriculture sector accounts for around 40 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and employs over 50 percent of the total national work force. 75 percent of the national population, or some 36 million, live in rural areas - most of whom are directly or indirectly dependent upon agriculture for their livelihoods. Rainfall patterns in Myanmar are seasonal. Annual rainfall is concentrated in the monsoon period – about 4 to 5 months, followed by long dry spells of dry season. The heavy monsoon rainfall allows for a single season rain-fed paddy crop in most parts of the country but in the central dry zones supplemental irrigation is essential, even in the so-called “wet season”. Development of irrigation and drainage facilities has always been a high priority for the government of Myanmar but the central dry zone required special attention. Rapid project formulation required The Government of Myanmar requested a loan from the OFID to finance the completion of two irrigation and drainage schemes in support of a “Water Sector Improvement Project” in the dry regions. The project objective was to complete the construction of irrigation and drainage canal distribution networks, and associated water control structures with a view to promote high agricultural output and increase income and living standards of the small-scale farmers. OFID funding for this project was dependent on the prompt development of a project formulation report, which had to be carried out in a space of six weeks. “OPEC needed the TCP Facility to formulate the project promptly”, said Mr Xueming Liu, an economist with the FAO Investment Centre. An honest broker linking beneficiary countries with finance institutions At a total cost of US$155 000, FAO produced a project report that would adequately meet the technical requirements of the OFID, and enable it to promptly appraise the project for financing. “The Technical Cooperation Programme acted as an honest broker linking the beneficiary countries with the financing institutions” said Liu. The OFID will provide a loan of US$20 million which will mainly finance the civil works, equipment and machinery, while the Government of Myanmar will provide about US$11.4 million. The irrigation schemes would cover a net area of 38,000 ha benefiting 14,000 smallholder farm families (80,000 persons). Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:03:46 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36642 2007-09-24T11:03:46Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36616 FAO’s prompt response in preparing a project blueprint for the construction of irrigation schemes in the drier regions of Myanmar has mobilized US$ 31.4 million worth of funding from both the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and the Government of Myanmar. Thanks to the TCP Facility FAO was able to quickly mobilize the funds necessary to produce a project formulation report Insufficient rainfall in the central dry zone Myanmar’s agriculture sector accounts for around 40 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and employs over 50 percent of the total national work force. 75 percent of the national population, or some 36 million, live in rural areas - most of whom are directly or indirectly dependent upon agriculture for their livelihoods. Rainfall patterns in Myanmar are seasonal. Annual rainfall is concentrated in the monsoon period – about 4 to-5 months, followed by long dry spells of dry season. The heavy monsoon rainfall allows for a single season rain-fed paddy crop in most parts of the country but in the central dry zones supplemental irrigation is essential, even in the so-called “wet season”. Development of irrigation and drainage facilities has always been a high priority for the government of Myanmar but the central dry zone required special attention. Rapid project formulation required The government of Myanmar requested a loan from the OFID to finance the completion of two irrigation and drainage schemes in support of a “Water Sector Improvement Project” in the dry regions. The project objective was to complete the construction of irrigation and drainage canal distribution networks, and associated water control structures with a view to promote high agricultural output and increase income and living standards of the small scale farmers OFID funding for this project was dependent on the prompt development of a project formulation report, which had to be carried out in a space of six weeks. “OPEC needed the TCP facility to formulate the project promptly”, said Mr Xueming Liu, an economist with the FAO Investment Centre. An honest broker linking beneficiary countries with finance institutions At a total cost of US$ 155 000, FAO produced a project report that would adequately meet the technical requirements of the OFID, and enable it to promptly appraise the project for financing. “The Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) acted as an honest broker linking the beneficiary countries with the financing institutions” said Liu. The OFID will provide a loan of US$ 20 million which will mainly finance the civil works, equipment and machinery, while the Government of Myanmar will provide about US$ 11.4 million. The irrigation schemes would cover a net area of 38,700 ha benefiting 14,000 small holder farm families (80,000 persons). Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:12:18 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36616 2007-09-20T11:12:18Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36609 Efforts to rebuild the rural economy of Afghanistan must start with a better understanding of the country’s complex history, social background and extraordinary resilience of the Afghan people in repeatedly rebuilding their livelihoods. Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:53:26 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36609 2007-09-18T13:53:26Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//25718 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:03:30 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//25718 2007-09-06T11:03:30Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36282 The programme aimed at strengthening the capacity of staff members working in Decentralised Offices to engage in policy dialogue with national policymakers. It was designed to bring together FAO’s knowledge and thinking on policies and strategies for agriculture and rural development in the context of MDGs. The material produced for this programme was made available to a broader public through the Web on FAO’s EASYPol site Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:03:23 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36282 2007-09-04T17:03:23Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36579 Après le séisme dévastateur qui a frappé la côte méridionale du Pérou tuant plus de 500 personnes, détruisant plus de 39 000 habitations et laissant des dizaines de milliers de personnes sans abri, quelque 13,85 millions de dollars sont requis pour les besoins alimentaires et la restauration des moyens d’existence des populations sinistrées qui vivaient essentiellement de la petite agriculture et de la pêche artisanale. Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:03:03 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36579 2007-09-04T11:03:03Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36578 La FAO lancera en septembre un programme de 3,3 millions de dollars afin d’aider les petits exploitants du Liban-Sud à redémarrer leurs activités après des mois d’interruption causés par la guerre et par les munitions non explosées. Le Programme est financé dans le cadre du Fonds du PNUD pour le relèvement du Liban. Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:48:03 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36578 2007-09-04T10:48:03Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//31473 La Dirección de Asistencia para las políticas de la FAO ha lanzado EASYPol, un depósito de documentos en línea relacionados con los sectores de formulación de políticas agrícola y rural. EASYPol se ha creado para dar acceso a los documentos de formulación de políticas a través de un motor de búsqueda, indizados por temas así como por capacitación. Disponibles en inglés, francés y español, EASYPol se actualiza regularmente con nuevos documentos. Sugerencias y comentarios se pueden enviar a easypol@fao.org. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:06:43 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//31473 2007-08-20T11:06:43Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36472 An FAO funded project that will focus on the ‘development of a Fisheries Information Centre in the Yemen capital, Sana’a was launched today in an effort to assist the country’s fisheries sector’s sustainable development. The activities of this TCP project will be integrated within the activities of a World Bank and EU - funded project aimed at fostering resource management and conservation through policy and institutional support for the small scale fisheries sector. Fisheries contribute substantially to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the coastal zones of Yemen and provides employment and livelihood to over 53 000 fishermen. It is an important aspect of Yemen’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. The rise of small scale fisheries Significant changes have occurred in the fisheries sector in Yemen in the past four years. While small scale fisheries production and exports grew significantly, the industrial fisheries were on the decrease and eventually stopped in 2003. This decline was largely due to a change in national policy by the Government of Yemen, which began enforcing the conditions of International fishing agreements, resulting in the cancellation of virtually all foreign industrial fishing licenses. As a result, the fisheries conditions in Yemen became conducive for small scale fisheries activities. Small scale fisheries, which have risen dramatically, are now valued at about 200 million US and produce significant catches of over 230,000 tonnes. Information: the key to Fisheries Development Collection of data and statistics are key to the sustainable management of the fisheries sector. The development of a fisheries information centre with a US$ 177 000 TCP grant will assist in sound policy making and management of the growing small scale fisheries sector in Yemen. The Information Centre will provide key information required by managers and other stakeholders on a regular basis, such as, indicators and statistics on status and trends of fisheries resources, which are essential for sound fisheries management and planning. “FAO has agreed to fund the centre and develop it into a user friendly, integrated information system”, said Gertjan de Graaf, FAO FishCode Senior Projects Management Officer. This TCP project will be compounded within the activities of the World Bank and the EU and will enhance the capacity of the Ministry of Fish Wealth to manage, analyse and disseminate relevant information through the development of the Fisheries Information Centre. The key objectives of the project are to increase knowledge of the exploitation of fisheries resources and to contribute more toward the sustainable development of capture fisheries. Yemen experts will build the information centre while the FAO will provide technical guidance and facilities for the year long project. The project will be implemented within the framework of the FAO strategy for improving information on status and trends of captured fisheries worldwide. According to Mr de Graaf, the project aims to develop infrastructure for the fishing sector in the country, organize fishing operations and improve the quality of fisheries products. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:03:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36472 2007-08-20T11:03:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//25740 Los diez países de la cuenca del Nilo tendrán un mejor acceso a la información sobre la disponibilidad, la utilización y el desarrollo potencial de los recursos del río gracias a un nuevo proyecto para mejorar el aprovechamiento de las aguas en la región, anunció hoy la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO). El proyecto de cinco millones de dólares, financiado por el gobierno italiano, será llevado a cabo por los gobiernos de los países participantes, con la asistencia de la FAO. Se sitúa en el ámbito de la Iniciativa de la Cuenca del Nilo, una asociación regional promovida por los estados ribereños del Nilo en 1999 para facilitar el objetivo común del desarrollo sostenible y la gestión de los recursos hídricos del río. "Las aguas del Nilo tienen un potencial enorme como motor de desarrollo social y económico. No obstante, la incapacidad de planear conjuntamente el aprovechamiento de las aguas, de llegar a un acuerdo sobre la repartición equitativa de los beneficios y de conseguir inversiones han retardado que de este recurso se beneficien los habitantes de la región de la cuenca del Nilo", explicó Pasquale Steduto, jefe del Servicio de Recursos, Fomento y Aprovechamiento de Aguas de la FAO. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:51:43 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//25740 2007-08-20T10:51:43Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36431 FAO and EBRD helping Georgian wine producers protect appellations and capture new markets- A four day wine sector tour in Italy, organized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and FAO, will focus on improving marketing strategies and protecting Georgia’s geographical appellations. The study tour, which takes place from the 16th to the 19th of July 2007, aims to improve Georgian wine producers’ capacity to stimulate demand for their products in the global market. A team of 11 wine sector stakeholders from Georgia is participating in the study tour, which is financed by Canada. The Georgian team, led by Mrs. Lily Begiashvili – the Georgian Deputy Minister of Agriculture – will tour key wineries including Antinori (Orvieto Classico appellation), Ruffino (Chianti Classico appellation) and Masi (Amarone della Valpolicella Classico appellation), where “best practices” in the Italian wine sector will be showcased. In addition to the tour of Italian wineries and associations of wine-makers, the participants will attend a seminar organized by FAO experts and key Italian wine industry players such as - inter alia - the Italian Trade Commission (Istituto nazionale per il Commercio Estero - ICE) and the Italian Wine Union (Unione Italiana Vini), the oldest Italian wine sector association, Federvini and the National Committee on Wine Appellations (Ministry of Agriculture). The seminar will focus on the importance of collective action and empowerment initiatives such as wine producers associations in capturing new markets and protecting geographical appellations. FAO has been supporting the development of the Georgian wine sector since 2000 when, at the request of the Government, it provided assistance in drafting Georgiá’s first wine law. The law instituted an appellation of origin labelling system which provides details about where the wine comes from, the grapes used in it and how it was produced. Despite this tracing system, the Georgian wine sector continues to be plagued by counterfeiting. It was affected by the banning of wine exports to Russia - its biggest export market - in 2006. “Georgia’s wine industry has to broaden its markets” says Emmanuel Hidier of FAO’s Investment Centre. “It has to stimulate demand for its appellations in large wine markets such as the EU and North America.” The seminar will explore ways to do just that and learn from the Italian experience. At the same time it will discuss the geographical appellations issue and learn from the Italian know-how how best to protect and promote such appellations. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:48:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36431 2007-08-20T10:48:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36424 Despite positive results in the fight against hunger in many parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, progress has not been evenly distributed, said FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf at a meeting today in Brazil. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:33:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36424 2007-08-20T10:33:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36401 Six African governments and the United Nations today agreed on a road map to tackle the root causes of rising hunger across the drought-plagued Horn of Africa, warning that the next major crisis could force more than 20 million people into needing emergency assistance. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:18:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36401 2007-08-20T10:18:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36356 Lesotho needs urgent international assistance to avert a major food crisis because of high cereal prices after this year’s main cereal harvest was ravaged by one of the worst droughts in 30 years, says a new report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:03:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36356 2007-08-20T10:03:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36347 A project designed to support Morocco’s National Water Economy Plan was launched today in an effort to combat the country’s water shortage problem, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:48:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36347 2007-08-20T09:48:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36344 Global food import bills are increasing, partly due to soaring demand for biofuels, according to FAO’s latest Food Outlook report. Global expenditures on imported foodstuffs look set to surpass US$400 billion in 2007, almost 5 percent above the record of the previous year. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:33:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36344 2007-08-20T09:33:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36345 A growing proportion of rural family income is coming from non-farm activities such as commerce, service provision and immigrant remittances. However earnings from agriculture continue to be a fundamental source of livelihood for 90 percent of rural households, particularly the poor, according to a report released today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) during a seminar on rural incomes. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:18:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36345 2007-08-20T09:18:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36343 A poor harvest coupled with a worsening economic crisis will leave more than 4 million people in Zimbabwe in need of food assistance by early next year, according to a report issued today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP). Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:03:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36343 2007-08-20T09:03:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36269 The American Red Cross and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have announced the launch of a new partnership to support the recovery of fishing communities in Indonesia's Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province affected by the 2004 tsunami. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:48:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36269 2007-08-20T08:48:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36207 South African development professionals at various levels of seniority will gain experience in aid delivery and management and in organizing and assisting small-scale farmers, under an agreement signed today between the Government of South Africa and FAO. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:33:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36207 2007-08-20T08:33:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36119 The Government of Venezuela has committed US$4.6 million to help FAO strengthen food security in Mali and Burkina Faso through two small-scale irrigation projects, making it the first Latin American country to fund FAO projects in other developing nations, the UN food agency announced today. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:18:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36119 2007-08-20T08:18:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36102 The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today signed an agreement to enhance their cooperation to promote and support the development of a viable, sustainable global agriculture system. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:03:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36102 2007-08-20T08:03:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36141 The Republic of Korea signed an agreement today with FAO promising to forge resources in order to strengthen sustainable forest management. The Republic of Korea decided to join an existing bilateral agreement between FAO and Japan to complement the resources. Mr. Tesfai Tecle, Assistant Director-General of the Technical Cooperation Department and Mr. Soo-hwa Lee, Deputy Minister of the Korea Forest Service, signed the agreement in the presence of Mr. Jan Heino, Assistant Director-General of the Forestry Department. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:48:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36141 2007-08-20T07:48:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36035 Vehari, Pakistan – In the cotton-growing heart of the Indus Valley, Pakistani taxpayers are now financing what European Union taxpayers helped start – a movement to give farmers the skills and confidence to rein in indiscriminate and dangerous use of pesticides, while reducing their poverty at the same time. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:33:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//36035 2007-08-20T07:33:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35953 Balabancik, Turkey - Sometime in late 2005 a stealthy invader slipped across one of Turkey's eastern borders and started to move westward toward Europe: a new strain of the virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a devastating sickness affecting cows, pigs, sheep and goats. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:18:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35953 2007-08-20T07:18:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35944 The Agricultural Policy Support Service (TCAS), FAO has released the Commodity Chain Analysis (CCA) software, manual and exercises. This multilingual software, available for now in English and French, will help you to build and analyse consistent policy scenarios for commodiy chains. It provides data storage and computing facilitites for Cost Benefit and Value Added Analysis at market and economic prices; competitiveness and protection indicators such as the Domestic Resource Cost ratios -DRC, Nominal Protection Coefficients - NPC, the Effective Protection Coefficient EPC. The user manual is available in English and French. FAO invites proposals to organise CCA policy training courses and/or to translate the software into other languages. Please, do not hesitate to provide your feedback to easypol@fao.org. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:03:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35944 2007-08-20T07:03:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35943 Queen Sofia of Spain visited FAO fisheries rehabilitation projects in a coastal area of the Indonesian province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam that was devastated by the December 2004 tsunami, leaving tens of thousands homeless with huge losses to livelihoods. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:48:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35943 2007-08-20T06:48:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35929 The Government of Germany has committed €2.8 million to support food security, sustainable agriculture and natural resource management in Afghanistan, Kenya and Tanzania, under two agreements signed today with FAO. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:33:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35929 2007-08-20T06:33:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35911 China will send 44 agricultural experts and technicians to Gabon to help small-scale farmers there improve crop and animal production, fish farming and processing of agricultural products, under an agreement signed today between the two countries and FAO. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:18:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35911 2007-08-20T06:18:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35778 After several years of social and political unrest aggravated by recurrent hurricanes, floods, droughts and other natural disasters which hampered its development, Haiti is at a crossroads. Recent democratic elections and the stabilization process backed by the international community today create an environment conducive to recovery. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:03:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35778 2007-08-20T06:03:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35717 The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus remains a “potent threat around the world – both to animals and humans. The possibility of a human pandemic hangs over us,” the UN Food and Agriculture Organization warns in a statement prepared for delivery tomorrow at a major donor conference in Bamako, Mali. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:48:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35717 2007-08-20T05:48:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35716 Amid growing calls for reform and coherence among United Nations partners, the heads of the three Rome-based food and agriculture agencies demonstrated their determination to strengthen joint efforts to reduce hunger and poverty at the grassroots level by visiting Ghana’s food insecure Northern Region this week. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:33:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35716 2007-08-20T05:33:05Z http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35695 FAO is asking donors for over $114 million to provide agriculture relief to vulnerable rural populations in 11 emergencies worldwide. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:18:05 GMT http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload//35695 2007-08-20T05:18:05Z