Initiatives introduced to boost rice production: Farmers receive support with the endorsement of new strategies by ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry

摘要

RICE PRODUCTION IN Southeast Asia - arguably the region's most important industry - has received a major boost with the endorsement of three new strategies by the Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry of the ten-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Implemented and coordinated by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the new measures are aimed at three major challenges facing rice production in ASEAN: 1 The environment. ASEAN has endorsed the development of a series of environmental indicators for rice production in the region focused on production, biodiversity, pollution, land degradation, and water; 2 Getting the latest knowledge and information to rice farmers. ASEAN has endorsed the further development of the Rice Knowledge Bank (RKB) for rice farmers (www,knowledgebank.irri.org/), Asia's first digital extension service in agriculture. The RKB is a repository of rice information contributing to the development of localized and integrated Web sites with credible, reliable, and demand-driven information for rice farmers, 3 Developing the next generation of rice farmers and scientists. Few young people in Asia today are interested in rice production, despite its obvious importance to the region, so ASEAN has endorsed the development of rice camps for young Asians to encourage them to consider a career in rice,