APD | Rural Development and Food Security Forum begins

By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

A three-day forum hoping to ensure access to nutritious, safe and affordable food using modern technologies and relevant policies will remain essential to realize inclusive and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific began this morning.

Asian Development Bank President Takehiko Nakao shared his views on the challenges faced by the region in his opening remarks earlier Monday at the ADB regional headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

In partnership with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the ADB hosts the forum with the theme “Transformative Changes for Rural Prosperity and Nutritious Food.”

Over 400 participants, including officials from ADB’s developing member countries, multilateral organizations, academics, farmers, and youth attended the opening session.

The three-day forum is part of ADB’s call to member countries to prioritize rural development and promote effective land and water resources management to ensure sufficient and sustainable food production. Smallholder farmers in Asia and the Pacific continue to struggle to earn a livable income and agricultural markets are largely not working adequately in most developing member countries.

“ADB will proactively assist our developing member countries to increase agricultural productivity and profitability, enhance food safety and improve climate resilience and sustainability,” ADB President Takehiko Nakao said during the opening rites. He added they, at ADB, are committed to supporting member countries to supply sufficient, nutritious, safe and affordable food.

Within ADB’s new corporate Strategy 2030, promoting rural development and food security is one of the seven operational priorities as ADB will incorporate climate-smart technologies and enabling policies into its operation s and catalyze public and private sector investments for rural development. It is also geared to promote transformative changes to make farming profitable, gender-responsive, highly-productive, and attractive to youth.

In 2018, ADB committed new loans and grants amounting to US$21.6 billion. ADB, established in 1966, is owned by 68 members, 49 of which are from the region.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)