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Crop Diversification in the Asia-Pacific region - United Nations in ...

Crop Diversification in the Asia-Pacific region - United Nations in ...

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In order to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> growth rate <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> agricultural sector, to <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>the</strong>capability <strong>in</strong> export competitiveness of agricultural products to foreign markets, to acceleratedomestic production for import substitution, to create jobs <strong>in</strong> rural areas to absorbunemployed workers and to prepare for global climate change, <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry of Agricultureand Cooperatives (MOAC) has adjusted its action plan for implementation <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> last periodof <strong>the</strong> 8 th National Economic and Social Development Plan to <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g: 1)restructur<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> agricultural sector; 2) <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> production efficiency and reductionof production costs; 3) improvement of products quality and process<strong>in</strong>g; 4) restructur<strong>in</strong>g of<strong>the</strong> MOAC; 5) promotion of rural sav<strong>in</strong>gs; 6) management of chemical fertilizers and o<strong>the</strong>ragricultural chemicals; 7) management of forest, soil, water, coastal areas, and biologicalresources; 8) preparation for global climate change; and 9) preparation for <strong>the</strong> 21 st Century.With regard to <strong>the</strong> adjustment of <strong>the</strong> MOAC’s roles and functions, <strong>the</strong> Department ofAgricultural Extension (DOAE) has <strong>the</strong>refore been tasked to be a core agency to transferagricultural technology (crop, animal rais<strong>in</strong>g, and fisheries) and to provide agricultural<strong>in</strong>formation services to farmers on a basis of one-stop service. By this means, farmers canbr<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> ga<strong>in</strong>ed knowledge, experiences and skills to engage <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir farm<strong>in</strong>g occupation to<strong>the</strong> extent that <strong>the</strong>y can be self-reliant and can <strong>in</strong>crease production efficiency at communitylevel. This results <strong>in</strong> farmers’ <strong>in</strong>come generat<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>the</strong> improvement of <strong>the</strong> quality of life, <strong>the</strong>development of capability of local communities <strong>in</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir own decisions, analyz<strong>in</strong>gproblems, participat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> production, process<strong>in</strong>g and market<strong>in</strong>g processes as well asmanag<strong>in</strong>g national resources and environment which will lead to susta<strong>in</strong>able agriculturaldevelopment.Measures to Support Farmers to be Self-reliant• Encourage local organizations and farmers to be able to analyze and draw up <strong>the</strong>ir ownfarm production plan at community level with <strong>the</strong> technical and <strong>in</strong>formation supportfrom <strong>the</strong> extension agents.• Assist small farmers and those who stay <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> state’s allocated land to produce food forhousehold consumption by adopt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>tegrated farm<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>the</strong> “New Theory” ofagricultural development and o<strong>the</strong>r alternative agriculture so as to reduce market<strong>in</strong>grisks and high cost of production aris<strong>in</strong>g from imported production <strong>in</strong>puts.• Encourage farmers’ <strong>in</strong>stitutions or local communities to lessen <strong>the</strong> dependence uponexternal funds and promote rural sav<strong>in</strong>gs as <strong>in</strong>ternal funds, <strong>in</strong>stead. This fund will beused for improvement of production efficiency, support of process<strong>in</strong>g and agro<strong>in</strong>dustriesor downstream agro-<strong>in</strong>dustries towards <strong>the</strong> production of value-addedproducts. In addition, ano<strong>the</strong>r fund will be set up to assist farmers and farmers’<strong>in</strong>stitutions <strong>in</strong> market<strong>in</strong>g aspects.• Support farmers’ <strong>in</strong>stitutions and local organizations to provide services <strong>in</strong> acquir<strong>in</strong>gplant<strong>in</strong>g materials, breed<strong>in</strong>g animals, and production <strong>in</strong>puts which are of good qualityand of fair prices to farmers.• Promote agricultural process<strong>in</strong>g at household level to <strong>in</strong>crease value of <strong>the</strong> products anddevelop a wide variety of product types to meet market demand.143

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