ADB commits support for agri productivity

MANILA, Philippines — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Monday it remains committed in helping its developing member countries in the Asia Pacific region improve agricultural productivity to support efforts on attaining food security. 

“For its part, ADB will proactively assist our developing member countries to increase agricultural productivity and profitability, enhance food safety, and improve climate resilience and sustainability,” said ADB president Takehiko Nakao in his opening remarks during the Rural Development and Food Security Forum held at the ADB headquarters. 

“We are committed to supporting our member countries to supply sufficient, nutritious, safe, and affordable food. People also want higher quality food as their incomes increase,” he added. 

The three-day forum is part of ADB’s call to its member countries to prioritize rural development in their national agenda and promote effective land and water resources management to aid food production. 

The forum attracted participants from government agencies, academy, research institutions, private sector, farmer organizations and civil society. 

Nakao noted that rural development and food security is among the seven operational priorities of the multilateral bank’s long-term Strategy 2030.

He said the continued inability of farmers in many countries in the Asia Pacific region to raise their incomes threatens to undo many of the gains achieved in poverty reduction across the region. 

 “The continued inability of farmers to generate a livable income risks rolling back many of the poverty reduction gains we have made in the last four decades. Further, extreme weather conditions caused by climate change, and degraded farmland and water resources are making our task of finding sustainable solutions even more difficult,” said Nakao.