Presented as part of the SIANI Hesa Expert Group meeting in Chulalongkorn University School of Agricultural Resources (CUSAR) in Bangkok. More at: http://bit.ly/1NwBkbp

1. Higher Education for Sustainable Agriculture
(HESA) and Food Security in Southeast Asia
Bangkok, 18 August 2015
Strenghentening
capacity for sustainable
agriculture and rural
development
Clara Mi Young Park
Gender (Rural and Social Development) Officer

2.  Diverse region: socially, culturally and economically
 Economic growth:
- projected to remain steady at 5.4 % in 2014
- 5.5% in 2015 (IMF, 2014)
 Successful trends in poverty reduction:
- many countries in region have already achieved MGD1:
the target of halving the proportion of people living below
$1.25 a day (SOFI 2015)
 Agricultural transformation
 Modernizing food supply systems
Asia and the Pacific: a dynamic region

3. Progress on MDG 1 – Target 1c

4. Progress on MDG 1 – Target 1c

5.  Most populous region in the world
- 4.1 billion in 2012, forecasted to grow by almost 1 billion by
2050 (ADB, 2014)
 Benefits of the economic growth unequally shared
among and within countries (FAO and ADB, 2013) with
widening income disparities
 Persisting gender inequalities in access to productive
resources, including land and water, services and trainings
 Over 60% of population suffers from chronic hunger
- 490 million people (FAO RAP, 2015)
 Most ecologically vulnerable due to climate change, natural
disasters
Persisting and increasing challenges

6.  Population pressure, rapid urbanization and out-migration,
feminization and ageing of agricultural labour force
 Natural resources depletion
 Encroachment over land and forests areas and land grabs
 Competing uses of land (e.g. food vs. biofuels, tourism and
urban development)
 Agro-chemicals and overuse of pesticides compromises
ecosystem services and risks secondary pest outbreaks
Agriculture-environment challenges

7. What are international or regional agencies currently
doing to address these interconnected concerns
through capacity strengthening partnerships with
universities, research institutions and extension
agencies?
Examples of FAO work in the Region

8.  FAO supports governments at central and local level to
strengthen the policy environment as well as delivery of
programmes
 FAO fosters partnerships across the board with research
institutions, CSO/NGO, famers organizations as well as the
private sector and development partners
 With Academia, FAO strives to bridge the gap between the
development and adoption of research outcomes and
innovations. This includes enabling policies, technologies
and improved farming practices
Fostering partnerships

9.  ASEAN-Republic of Korea Forest Cooperation (AFoCO)
 ASEAN
 Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management
and Rehabilitation (APFNet)
 Tsukuba University
 Japan International Research Centre for Agriculture Science
(JIRCAS)
 Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
 University of Queensland
 Maejo (agriculture) University
Some partners

10. Regional project, funded by the Swedish Government, for
better regulation and enforcement of pesticides in agriculture
in the Region, also builds capacity in extension systems for
pesticide risk reduction training and Integrated Pest
Management through Farmer Field Schools.
Gender analysis was carried out and activities designed to
facilitate women’s participation. This resulted in reduced
burden, increased crop diversification and improved diets for
families. For more information on this project: www.vegetableipmasia.org
FAO’s work in the Region

11.  Regional Rice Initiative (RRI) aimed at capacity building for
sustainable intensification of rice production and more
responsible management of ecosystem services available
from rice-based landscapes. The RRI works with
universities, research institutions and extension systems to
raise awareness and build capacity for development of
knowledge and skills for more better management of
ecosystem services in support of sustainable agriculture.
For more information on this project:
http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/perspectives/regional-rice/en/
FAO’s work in the Region

12.  FAO works with the Asian Institute of Technology on
implementation of a regional project aimed at
development of Systems of Rice Intensification (SRI) in
rainfed production areas in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
This project, funded by the EU, works with local
universities, research institutions, extension systems and
NGOs and supports action research and farmer training on
SRI. For more information on this project: http://www.sri-
lmb.ait.asia/
FAO’s work in the Region

13. FAO’s work in the Region
 Gender-sensitive value chains and women’s
entrepreneurship
 Training Guide on Gender and Climate Change Research in
Agriculture and Food Security for Rural Development, tested
in Bangladesh
 Training manual for mainstreaming gender in forest policies
 Support to Communities of Practice on Climate Change and
Agriculture, to facilitate development and adoption of
sustainable mitigation practices in various countries

14. What examples of innovations and best practices
now exist in your agency to support post-secondary
capacity strengthening or education, training,
extension and research for sustainable agriculture to
address overlapping agro-environmental problems,
food security, hunger and poverty?
Innovation and best practices

15. The application of Integrated Pest Management reduces the
need for pesticide applications. Farmers can and will reduce
risk associated with pesticide if given the educational
opportunities and offered effective alternative tools and
methods for eco-friendly pest management.
Farmers who have adopted IPM are often interested to
become growers for more profitable organic markets.
Case study on IPM and organic agriculture in Laos: http://www.fao.org/in-
action/good-agricultural-practices-help-raise-farmers-incomes-in-lao-pdr/en/
Innovation and best practices

16. • FAO and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
are collaborating to develop an e-agriculture strategy guide
and assist countries to develop their national e-agriculture
strategy / master plan
• E-agriculture strategies will help to rationalize resources
and address holistically the ICT opportunities and challenges
for the agricultural sector so to improve the livelihoods of
the rural community and ensure the goals of the national
agriculture master plan are achieved
Innovation and best practices

17. Can or should international agency support for post-secondary education,
training and research be improved to better address interrelated
agriculture-environment problems and food security challenges? If so
how?
 Need for agriculture curriculum reform and providing
better learning opportunities for formal and non-formal
vocational training for creating awareness and
development of skills for more responsible management of
agriculture ecosystems
 There is a need for making agriculture more appealing to
youth, boys and girls
 Ensuring equal access to training opportunities for different
women and men
Addressing the challenges through education

18. Thank you!
Clara.Park@fao.org