“Agriculture is central to Afghanistan’s social and economic development, with the sector employing two-thirds of the country’s national workforce and contributing 21.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017,” said ADB Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Economist Mr. Bui Minh Giap. “A major contributor to the sector is horticulture, with crops generating over USD1.4 billion annually representing 34% of agriculture’s total GDP. Supporting horticulture value chains will further boost the subsector’s contribution to the country’s development.”Agriculture is central to Afghanistan’s social and economic development, with the sector employing two-thirds of the country’s national workforce and contributing 21.9% of GDP in 2017. (Source: ADB)The Horticulture Value Chain Development Sector Project will improve agricultural productivity and food security in Afghanistan, while helping promote business linkages between … [Read more...] about Afghanistan develops horticulture value chains
Agricultural value chain finance
DPM highlights importance of agriculture at Growth Asia Forum
Agriculture is the key economic sector of most of the nations in ASEAN and agricultural-aquaculture-forestry production in the region not only ensures food security for the region with 650 million people but also guarantees global food security. Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung attends the opening ceremony of the Growth Asia Forum, one of the events of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN, Ha Noi, September 11, 2018 Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung made that statement at the opening ceremony of the Growth Asia Forum, one of the events of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN, which is held from September 11-13 in Ha Noi. Agricultural cooperation is regarded as one of most crucial contents of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which aims to improve the agricultural products’ capacity to entering market, set up connection link of agricultural products and enhance the participation and interests for farmers, he added. He asked to boost strategic cooperation in ASEAN through bilateral, … [Read more...] about DPM highlights importance of agriculture at Growth Asia Forum
Agriculture leaders call for ASEAN food system to embrace Industry 4.0
Leaders defined strategies for agriculture in the region and shared the common goal of encouraging modernised agriculture and food systems, which would place smallholder farmers at the core of profitable, sustainable, and growing supply chains. Around 500 million smallholder farmers produce 80 per cent of the food consumed in the developing world. There is a pressing need to ensure that these farmers are equipped with the appropriate technologies, knowledge, and skills to meet the increasing global demand for sustainable food. “We hold enormous hope for digitisation to transform the way smallholder farmers learn, communicate, and trade with agribusinesses,” said Grahame Dixie, executive director of Grow Asia. “The past year has seen a real change in how our partners view digital technologies. At the Grow Asia Forum, we heard from large agribusinesses and startups alike, including Bayer, AgriMedia, and Impact Terra, about how they are delivering greater profitably and … [Read more...] about Agriculture leaders call for ASEAN food system to embrace Industry 4.0
WEF ASEAN: Grow Asia Forum talks innovation in agriculture
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung speaks at the Grow Asia Forum. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Grow Asia Forum was held in Hanoi on September 11 within the framework of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN 2018 which lasts from September 11-13. The forum brought together leaders of agriculture ministries from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), multinational and global corporations, and companies operating in agriculture in the ASEAN region in general and Vietnam in particular. With 18 sessions, the event focused on agricultural finance, digital innovation in agricultural production, agriculture and the fourth Industrial Revolution, precision technology in agriculture and low-emission agriculture, among others. In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said agriculture is a key economic sector of most of ASEAN countries, noting that agro-forestry-fishery production not only ensures food … [Read more...] about WEF ASEAN: Grow Asia Forum talks innovation in agriculture
Lao PDR develops sustainable and climate-smart agriculture value…
The agreement was signed by Deputy Minister of Finance Ms. Thipphakone Chanthavongsa and ADB Country Director to the Lao PDR Mr. Yasushi Negishi. Senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and other line ministries also witnessed the signing ceremony in Vientiane.“Agriculture makes up a significant portion of the Lao PDR economy but the sector’s vulnerability to climate change threatened by floods and droughts puts the country’s development prospect and food security at risk,” said Mr. Negishi. “This project realizes a joint effort between the Government of the Lao PDR and ADB to tackle the challenge in order to make the country’s agricultural production more commercialized, sustainable, and climate-resilient, while promoting regional integration, cooperation, and the competitiveness of agribusiness value chains to support the country’s economic development.”Lao PDR Deputy Minister of Finance Ms. Thipphakone … [Read more...] about Lao PDR develops sustainable and climate-smart agriculture value…