PRESS RELEASE
Makati City — A new development programme designed to improve the income and food security of 10 million small-scale farmers and rural producers was launched earlier this month at the 37th meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) in Makati City.
Supported by the European Union (EU) in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the 16 million euro ASEAN Farmers’ Organizations Support Programme (AFOSP) will assist farmers’ organizations to more effectively influence agriculture and food security policy on a national, regional and global level.
“Approximately 80 per cent of agriculture investments are made by smallholders who provide 80 per cent of the world’s food supply. These farmers deserve support from governments and international finance institutions,” said Hoonae Kim, Director, Asia and the Pacific, IFAD.
Some 40 national organizations and 300 local associations will benefit from AFOSP investments in agriculture services, training centres and marketing facilitation.
IFAD currently invests in rural development in eight ASEAN member countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines and Viet Nam.
As of the end of 2014, IFAD was providing more than US$1.8 billion in financing for 56 ongoing programmes and projects in 20 of the region’s 34 countries. With cofinancing by development partners and funds from governments and other domestic sources, these operations represent a total investment of more than $4.2 billion.
photo courtesy of www.asiapacificfarmersforum.com
