Headline, April 11 2022/ ''' '' POVERTY HUNGER PONDERS '' '''

''' '' POVERTY HUNGER

 PONDERS '' '''

''IN THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE INTANGIBLES - HOW Mankind and the world faces up to Poverty and Hunger in times ahead, will, to a very large extent, depend on The World Students Society's struggles.

THE CURRENT NUTRITION SITUATION IN ASIA and the Pacific is difficult in many areas across the region. About 40% of its inhabitants cannot afford a healthy diet, and in some areas the fight against hunger has seen reversals not advances.

Progress toward meeting the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] of defeating both poverty [SDG 1] and hunger [SDG 2] has been thrown off track amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which has devastated both lives and livelihoods.

Luckily, the picture is not all bleak and there are signs of optimism and dynamism. Advances in the region's agrifood systems are changing the ways in which food is sustainably produced, marketed and consumed. This transformation reflects a greater awareness by Asia-Pacific producers and growing demands from consumers for healthier, more nutritious foods.

Crop and livestock farmers, fishers, pastoralists, other producers and retailers - large and small - are successfully turning to innovative ideas and digital technologies. These improvements in production and sustainable resource management keep more money in their pockets, while helping to reverse environmental degradation.

All this is helping to create a paradigm shift that is taking shape in other parts of the world too. In Asia and Pacific, there is a clear and growing movement toward innovation and digitalisation along the entire agrifood value chain.

Retail grocery and food shopping is an important example. This is not only a phenomenon of well -developed economies, with four out of five sales on online food and grocery purchases taking place in the Asia-Pacific region.

This is just one aspect of the agrifood systems overhaul that is reshaping countries rapidly across Asiaand the Pacific, from West Asia, all across South Asia, Southeast Asia to the Pacific island countries.

In the Pacific's Small Island Developing States [SIDS] grassroots entrepreneurs are increasingly stepping forward. Their innovative smartphone apps help producers and consumers to make informed, nutritious choices. 

The private and development sectors are also leveraging increasingly available data to make the supply chain of agricultural commodities to markets more efficient and timely, and to map areas vulnerable to extreme weather events.

At FAO, we are working with our members across Asia and the Pacific region to transform agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable - to the benefit of all.

Through the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, we are assisting policymakers in their plans to further leverage data, technology and innovation to meet the SDGs targets by 2030.

We are proactively identifying and supporting digital villages across the region as part of FAO's 1,000 Digital Villages Initiative.

We are continuing to nurture and promote country-led SIDS solutions and Hand-in-Hand solutions partnerships, which includes advising on climate event mitigation and adaptation, and helping to overcome the damage caused to lives and livelihoods by the pandemic and climate change.

These were among the topics that were discussed at the 36th Session of the FAO Asia and the Pacific Regional Conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh. FAO members from the region - 46 in toal - will come together to build on the transformational agenda and actions under the FAO Strategic Framework 2022 - 31, along with recommendations of the UN Food Systems Summit 2021.

FAO is leading in hosting the recently established Coordination Hub for the follow-up of the Summit, which will support countries in further developing and implementing national pathways towards agrifood systems transformation in line with national priorities.

Working with our members in Asia and the Pacific, we will create even stronger partnerships with academic and research institutions, civil society organisations, cooperatives, parliamentarians and the private sector, with the inclusion of women and youth, as part of our commitment to the global efforts to build back better.

FAO is supporting the region to think big and act concretely. We are providing a constructive hand, but we need many more hands to reach our collective goals. For a better world with a better future for our children, we need better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all -leaving no one behind.

For this, we need strong political will and efficient, effective and coherent multilateral actions.

The Concern and Suffering for the Poor and Developing Countries and the Economies of the world, continues. The World Students Society thanks QU DONGYU, H.E. the Director General of UN's Food and Agricultural Organization.

With most respectful dedication to the Leaders, Planners and Policy Makers at the FAO, and then Students, Professors and Teachers of the world. See Ya all prepare and register for Great Global Elections on The World Students Society : wssciw.blogspot.com and Twitter - !E-WOW! - The Ecosystem 2011 :

Good Night and God Bless

SAM Daily Times - the Voice of the Voiceless