Title of document: Production of Vegetable Fern (Diplazium esculentum Reytz.) Under Varying Levels of Shade Authors/editor: Patrick Trail, Yuwadee Danmalidoi, Abram Bicksler, and Rick Burnette Journal’s name if any: EDN Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: ECHO Asia Impact Center Year of publication: 2021 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://edn.link/hk96zz Summary: This topic of interest dates back a few years to when Rick Burnette served as Director of ECHO Asia. Observing that local edible vegetable ferns were only being wild-harvested and made available at market certain times of the year, he rationalized that perhaps this local Neglected and Underutilized Species could be cultivated on-farm, using artificial shade, thus making it marketable in the ‘off-season’ as well. Since that time, the experiment has been replicated and wrapped up (with the help of many hands), and the following article summarizes what we have learned   Read More

Title of document: Insect Pest Management Authors/editor: Annie Deutsch and Stacy Swartz Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: EDN Year of publication: 2021 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://edn.link/ipm2 Summary: Insect pests affect all forms of agricultural production, from densely planted field crops to high-value nursery plants to grains in storage. This article explains some principles and practices for conducting in-field observations (sampling) to inform pest management decisions. General principles and practices are discussed for detecting, identifying, and monitoring pest populations, in order to inform next steps.   Read More

Title of document: Seasonal organic rice revival in Mekong Delta Authors/editor: Dr. Nguyen Van Kien Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: The Saigon Times Year of publication: 2021 Geographic focus: Vietnam Main issues/ topics addressed (for example:…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): https://en.thesaigontimes.vn/tinbaichitiet/80949/?fbclid=IwAR31-rjqmkl3LhN3yxLXP8VdjkJykpu-xjIrueD0-KcJCH5yc3yXb4FBpA0 Summary: According to the analysis by QY Research published in 2020, the total value of global organic rice exports in 2018 was US$1.5 billion. The figure was forecast to increase 9% in the period 2019-2025 and reach US$2.78 billion by 2025. In Vietnam, seasonal organic rice, which has been seemingly extinct after some time, is gradually reviving and proving its outstanding value to farmers and the ecology. In 2020, the Mekong Delta had over 1,400 hectares of rice in the provinces of Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Kien Giang and Vinh Long which were certified up to the international organic standards (USDA/EU/JAS—U.S. Department of Agriculture/European Union/Japanese Agricultural Standards). Ca Mau had the largest area of organic rice-shrimp production. Meanwhile, the seasonal rice, the kind of seasonal floating rice grown without chemicals likely to be converted to organic certified rice, has begun to revive on the delta soil…   Read More

Title of document: COVID-19 building back greener and more resilient: Contributions of agroecology to a “new normal” in Asia and the Pacific Authors/editor: FAO Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: FAO Year of publication: 2021 Geographic focus: SEA Main issues/ topics addressed (for example:…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cb3114en Summary: Besides the severe health crisis, the COVID-19 epidemic also caused the global economy to contract at a rate not seen since the Second World War and led to a severe increase of poor and food insecure people as well as a sharp projected decrease of production of agricultural goods in Southeast Asia. The effects of the pandemic on agriculture have been exacerbated by the way in which the current industrial farming system is set up. Integral to Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) common vision for sustainable food and agriculture, agroecology echoes the goals of the 2030 Agenda and can be seen as a key part of the global response to this climate of instability, offering an original approach to meeting significant increases in our food needs of the future while ensuring no one is left behind. As recognized by the World Bank and FAO-led global agriculture assessment (IAASTD 2019), landmark reports from IPBES (2018; 2019), IPCC (2019), and FAO (2019a), agroecology has the capacity to reconcile the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability. This paper is a contribution to the regional dialogue on how to respond to the COVID19 crisis. It first highlights some of the impacts of the pandemic on agriculture and food security in the Asia Pacific Region. Then, mobilizing the FAO’s 10 elements of Agroecology framework, it provides selected examples of how agroecological approaches can contribute transforming food systems and developing a greener, more resilient and more inclusive “new normal”   Read More

Title of document: Mechanization of Agriculture: Market Dynamics in China, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Authors/editor: UN-ESCAP CSAM Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: UN-ESCAP CSAM Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: The Role of Mechanization in Agriculture; Country Market Dynamics; Summary of Findings and Conclusions…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://www.un-csam.org/Publication/ReCAMA/RF2020.pdf Summary: Given multiple challenges, such as a growing population, poverty, and the adverse impacts of climate change that the farming community faces, agriculture mechanization plays a significant role in ensuring food security. The food production value chain comprises of a wide range of stakeholders who play different roles and contribute in numerous ways. This study was conducted to understand the market dynamics of agriculture machinery trade in China, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Such an understanding aims to assist various stakeholders, particularly manufacturers, exporters, importers, distributors, retailers, service providers and end-users, in their trade interactions with each other in different markets as well as exploring new opportunities.   Read More

Title of document: Mechanization Solutions for Improved Livestock Management and Prevention & Control of Zoonotic Diseases Authors/editor: UN-ESCAP CSAM Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: UN-ESCAP CSAM Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://www.un-csam.org/Publication/2020/zoonoticpre_ENG.pdf Summary: Animal husbandry plays an important role in the agricultural industry. However, since the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic which has become a global crisis affecting human health and economic and social development, increased attention has been devoted to zoonotic diseases and measures for their prevention and control. Due to various factors such as weaknesses in anti-epidemic measures and social and cultural contexts, the Asia-Pacific region has always been an area with a high incidence of zoonotic diseases, causing huge losses to the livestock farming industry, and threatening human health and safety as well as people’s livelihood and food security.   Read More

Title of document: NAFRI Research Brief: Leveraging Geo-Economic Proximity and Agricultural Commercialisation Authors/editor: Mr. Khamphou Phouyyavong, (PhD), Deputy Director of ERDRC, NAFRI; Ms. Isabelle Vagneron (PhD), Policy Research Specialist; Ms. Sengphachanh Sonethavixay, Technical Advisor; Mr. Anthony M. Zola, Development Economist Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: NAFRI - MAF Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Lao PDR Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: The purpose of this research brief is to synthesize the findings of ten policy research studies conducted by NAFRI’s Policy Think Tank (PTT) research team between 2016 and 2020, and complementary research studies. The research was related to commercialisation of agricultural products in Lao PDR…   Read More

Title of document: Building an Evidence Base for Policy Formulation in the Agriculture and Rural Development Sector in Lao PDR Authors/editor: NAFRI Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: NAFRI - MAF Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Lao PDR Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: Sustainable Commercial Agricultural Production: A Case Study of Commercialized Banana Production; Development of Benzoin Upstream Value Chains for Uplands of The Lao PDR; Cassava Value Chains in Champasak and Salavan Provinces…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: In June 2012, the Government of the Lao PDR, with the support of development partners, established a Policy Think Tank as part of the Sector Working Group on Agriculture and Rural Development. The Policy Think Tank is led by NAFRI, the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, which is under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The aim of the Policy Think Tank is to engage government ministries and private sector stakeholders in dialogue and consensus building to address critical national policy issues that impact actions at the provincial and district levels to support the improvement of livelihoods among the rural poor…   Read More

Title of document: Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Sustainable Commercialization in the Coffee Value Chain Authors/editor: UNCTAD Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: UNCTAD Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Lao PDR Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: Organic Agriculture in Lao; Coffee Value Chain Actors …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: Sustainable commercialisation of agriculture for the local market and for exports is one of the key pillars of the sustainable development policy of Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Relevant policies and guidelines have been developed to enhance the production capacities of value chain actors and facilitate the access of local agricultural products, including coffee, to international markets…   Read More

Title of document: The management of an improved pasture and the selection of the animal shelter (Lao language) Authors/editor: Agrisud International Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: Agrisud International, SNV, SDC Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Lao PDR Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: The first series of Master-Farmers booklets published on ALiSEA is to support the establishment and management of improved pastures for big livestock.   Read More