FAO regional confce begins

The 36th Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) began in Dhaka on Tuesday focusing on four areas of regional cooperation, including a sustainable agri-food system.
Addressing the inaugural session of the conference, FAO Assistant Director-General Jung-Jin Kim highlighted the areas for regional cooperation to be focused on in the conference.
Priority would be given to sustainable agri-food system for improved production, improved nutrition, safeguarding the environment and life, sustainable use of natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and building a climate-friendly agri-food system, he said.
The government convened the four-day conference in a hybrid modality with the participation of 43 FAO member states in Asia and the Pacific.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu also joined the conference in person.
Md Sayedul Islam, secretary of the agriculture ministry, inaugurated the first two-day session of the conference for senior officials and agriculture secretaries at InterContinental Dhaka. The agriculture secretary was elected president for the session.
In his inaugural speech, Islam said agriculture in Asia and the Pacific is facing a major challenge of climate change.
“It will also have a huge impact on agriculture in Bangladesh. In this context, the conference will expand the field of exchange of knowledge, technology and experience among member countries and enhance mutual cooperation,” he added.
Islam went on to say that hosting the conference in Bangladesh in the year of “Mujib Borsho” is a milestone in the country’s agricultural development.
While talking about the arrangements for this event amid the Covid-19 pandemic, FAO Assistant Director-General Kim said this edition of the regional conference is unique. It is the first time the FAO has convened a regional conference in Asia and the Pacific in a hybrid mode.
“I am hopeful that also sends a signal that while Covid-19 is still with us, we are slowly emerging from its grip,” he added.
On the first day, delegates from FAO member states discussed regional and global policies, and regulatory matters.
Among different issues, including the state of food and agriculture in the region in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, actions to promote climate-resilient agri-food systems, setting up inclusive digitalisation in agricultural value chains and identifying one health priority, were discussed.
The secretary-level session of the conference will end today while the agriculture minister-level session will take place on March 10-11.