Bali, October 26, 2015: The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the government of Indonesia are hosting a regional conference that will bring together 300 rural development experts and government ministers from Asia and the Pacific to exchange ideas on achieving sustainable development and shape rural development policies in the region.
The event held in Bali, Indonesia on 26-27 October, will provide a platform to explore issues such as how policies can enable innovations, promote rural entrepreneurship and help smallholder farmers and fishers to adapt to climate change. The event will also be an opportunity to showcase best practises and identify goalposts for IFAD-driven policy dialogue in Asia and the Pacific.
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to discuss common challenges and to prioritise common actions, including those that will improve household food security and protect coastlines,” said Hari Priyono, Secretary General, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia.
Speakers at the meeting will include: Anote Tong, President of Kiribati; Hoonae Kim, Director, Asia and the Pacific, IFAD; Hari Priyono, Secretary General, Minister of Agriculture, Indonesia; Semisi Tauelangi Fakahau, Minister of Agriculture, Tonga; Patrick Pruaitich, Minister for Treasury of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea; and leaders in development, farmer groups and the private sector.
“In IFAD we believe that farming is a business,” said Hoonae Kim. “We support rural development policies that are inclusive and innovative and address common challenges. Together with our partners, we can play an important role in assisting smallholder farmers and fishers to engage with the private sector and to adapt to the effects of climate change.” Smallholder farmers and fishers are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
IFAD-supported projects channel climate and development finance to smallholder farmers so they can access the information, tools and technologies that help them adapt. IFAD currently has an investment portfolio of US$2.05 billion in 22 countries in the Asia and the Pacific region, benefiting an estimated 24 million rural people.
Since it began operating in the region in 1978, IFAD has invested in 25 countries in Asia and the Pacific reaching an estimated 145 million people.
Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)
