Asia Insights : Agriculture

Bird / Avian Flu

• International and regional organizations
• News, features, and opinions
• Research on Bird Flu
• Tools and guides
• Bird Flu Maps
• Resources

International and regional organizations

ADB, The work of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is aimed at improving the welfare of the people in Asia and the Pacific, particularly the 1.9 billion who live on less than $2 a day. Despite many success stories, Asia and the Pacific remains home to two thirds of the world's poor. ADB is a multilateral development financial institution owned by 64 members , 46 from the region and 18 from other parts of the globe.

ADB's vision is a region free of poverty. Its mission is to help its developing member countries reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of their citizens.

FAO, UN body with the mandate to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, to improve agricultural productivity, and to better the condition of rural populations.

CGIAR, the CGIAR is a strategic alliance of members, partners and international agricultural centers that mobilizes science to benefit the poor.

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) , research centre aiming to identify and analyse policies for meeting food needs of developing countries.

Reliefweb Asia

WISARD (Webbased Information System for Agricultural Research for Development), directory of agricultural and natural resources research projects relevant to developing countries.

WWW site also includes directories of rural development institutions in most countries. Data management is decentralied to national and organisation focal points.

Urban Harvest, CGIAR

World Bank. Agriculture and rural development

Research Centres

The Asia Pacific Regional Technology Centre (APRTC) is an independent, non-profit, corporation dedicated to improving the welfare and knowledge of developing country farmers and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.

A priority activity of APRTC is agLe@rn, an distance learning programme targeting the continuing educational needs of agricultural educators and other professionals who serve and support farmers and farming communities.

Key research areas include online learning styles, learning evaluation and connectivity.

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Research centre looking at sustainable mountain development. Include mountain farming ecosystems, natural resource management and enterprise development. Concentrates mostly on the Himalayan region.

Networks

DROKPA, which means "nomad" in Tibetan, is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting pastoral ways of life across the Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, and Central Asia. Using simple tools and replicable strategies. DROKPA 's collaborative work addresses some of the most pressing problems faced by pastoral communities: inadequate fuel sources and fodder supplies and lack of health care and education.

ECARDC (the European Conference on Agriculture and Rural Development in China) was set up as an academic network to provide a forum to meet, discuss and share information and experiences about China's agricultural and rural development among scholars, development agencies, international donors, and professionals in development aid. ECARDC aims to be multi-disciplinary and bring together those with a background or interest in sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, geography and modern China studies.

NepalNet, electronic network of thirty Nepali organizations united in the aim of sharing sustainable development information on Nepal via the Internet. Hosted by ICIMOD. Subject areas covered include: agriculture; ecology and biodiversity; educataion; economy; forestry; sociology; policy; law; technology; water resources; land use.

Philippine APEC Study Center Network promotes the study of APEC related issues in the Philippines. PASCN conducts collaborative research on APEC related studies and Asia-Pacific economies, and facilitates the exchange of information between or among government, non-government organisations, academic and research institutions, business sector and the public in general in the Philippines on APEC related issues. It also establishes links with other APEC study centers in other countries in the region. The PASCN Secretariat is located at the Philippine Institute of Development Studies.

Risk Perception in Genetically Modified Crops

In recent years, China has become one of the largest growers of genetically modified (GM) crops in the world. Moreover, the Chinese government is making substantial investments to develop the domestic biotechnology sector. Some western observers fear that the pressures of food security and increased international competition coupled with a weak civil society, might cause the state to disregard the potential socio-economic and environmental risks of GM crops. In this project, the Centre for Development Studies of Groningen University and the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences will join forces in a study on the risk perception of various stakeholders – state institutions, companies, scientists, NGOs and farmers – and determine how this shapes China’s current and future biosafety and risk management policies.

Users' Perspectives With Agricultural Research and Development (UPWARD) is a network of scientists and development specialists working to increase participation by farmers and other users of agricultural technology in research and development. UPWARD seeks to address three important challenges facing agricultural research and development today: linking users and R&D professionals for more effective agricultural innovation; bringing sustained benefits to less favoured farming areas and marginalised groups, especially women; and working with households and local communities as key actors in research and learning activities.

News

Central Asia Agriculture News, service for global professionals. Constantly updated news and information about Central Asia.

Bird / Avian Flu

Concern is growing worldwide about a virulent strain of avian influenza – or 'bird flu' – that is spreading through countries in East Asia. The Links in the NIAS Asia Insights provide answers to key questions about bird flu, news about its progression and research efforts to control it, and links to reliable sources of further information.

Picture courtesy to the

Network for Smallholder Poultry Development

WHO Fact Sheet: Latest facts and figures.

THE DISEASE IN BIRDS. Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The disease occurs worldwide. While all birds are thought to be susceptible to infection with avian influenza viruses, many wild bird species carry these viruses with no apparent signs of harm.

Other bird species, including domestic poultry, develop disease when infected with avian influenza viruses. In poultry, the viruses cause two distinctly different forms of disease – one common and mild, the other rare and highly lethal. In the mild form, signs of illness may be expressed only as ruffled feathers, reduced egg production, or mild effects on the respiratory system. Outbreaks can be so mild they escape detection unless regular testing for viruses is in place.

EU/Public Health/Animal Health

On the Links between human and avian influenza , and some Questions and Answers on EU Action on Avian Influenza -

International and regional organizations

WHO, Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR)
A website that focuses on bird flu’s relevance to human health, and includes 'situation updates' from January 2004, relevant press releases from the WHO, 'frequently asked questions', and a fact sheet.

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
Information on bird flu regulation, surveillance, vaccines, guidelines for control, etc.

ADB Bird Flu ,

ADB and major regional development partners have unveiled a $38 million grant project designed to counter the immediate threat to the Asia and Pacific region posed by avian influenza.

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
Questions and answers, contacts and news coverage related to FAO's efforts to contain the spread of the disease

FAO AIDE News: Update on the Avian Influenza Maps  

IMF warns about economic consequences in Bid Flu Pandemic

News, features, and opinions

SciDev.Net Current News, questions, answers, and opinions from the Science and Development Network, which provides information on science- and technology-related issues that impact developing countries.

Infopig: bird flu news database
Daily updates of media reports on bird flu.

The Poultry Site guide to Avian Flu , A website supported by the poultry industry that provides news on bird flu from publications across the world.

CPTech collection of links to various documents on this issue , WTO, TRIP: Bird/Avian flu medicine debat

Reuters AlertNet - Bird Flu , provides news, information, and analysis on the bird-flu emergency.

Thanhnien.news.com: Search on Bird Flu

Thanh Nien, the flagship publication of the Vietnam National Youth Federation, launched its first issue on January 3, 1986. Since then, Thanh Nien has become one of the most prestigious and influential newspapers in Vietnam.

Asia-Pacific cooperation planned to cut flu costs

Countries from the Asia-Pacific region last week agreed a plan to limit the economic impacts of a human flu pandemic.

Catherine Brahic, 9 May 2006
Source: SciDev.Net
Government ministers from the Asia-Pacific region last week agreed a plan to limit the economic impacts of a human flu pandemic. It emphasises international cooperation, effective risk communication and coordination between the public and private sectors. The plan was adopted in Da Nang , Vietnam at a meeting of the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Research on Bird Flu

Asian nations team up for bird flu research,

[BEIJING] Five Asian nations and Canada today (25 April) launched a partnership to help identify ways of tackling outbreaks of bird flu. The Asian Research Partnership on Pandemic Influenza will study issues such as whether to vaccinate poultry in the wake of a bird flu outbreak. It will also support scientist exchanges, networking, and information-sharing activities

Network for Smallholder Poultry Development The vision of the Network is to unlock the potential of poultry as a tool in rural development by strengthened interdisciplinary and inter-institutional partnerships and networks.
Avian Flu Update

SciDev.net, Bird Flu : The FactsSciDev.Net has published regular news updates and facts containing links to the most recent news on the spread of the bird flu virus and the threat to human health. Click below to follow the latest developments.
BIRD FLU UPDATES

New Scientists: Search on Bird Flu

Nature: Search on Bird Flu

Science Magazine: Search on Bird Flu

Asia Int.com: Search on Bird Flu

Tools and guides

A guide for prevention and control of Avian Flu

Avian Influenza test kit developed by Danish Bisoscience company (22.11.2005)

Prevention and control of Avian Flu in small scale production. Available in English, and Vietnamese

 Bird Flu Maps

Avian influenza maps
Wild birds & avian influenza
EMPRES / FAO, United Nations , H5N1 outbreaks in 2005 & poultry density (in Asia),

Region office West Pacific, World Health Organization (WHO) H5N1 in Asia,

Resources

Avian Influenza in Wild Birds - Sources of Information
General information about the virus and its transmission (including in particular the 2003-2004 outbreaks), guidelines for its control, and specialist information for health professionals. Also contains useful information in Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese.
Centres for Disease Control (CDC)
Links to information about avian influenza in wild birds, put together by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management.
China.org
A Chinese website that contains reports on outbreaks, the responses of international organisations, and 'frequently asked questions'.
The Communication Inititive: Avian influenza
A list of online resources on communicating about bird flu; each link is accompanied by a brief description of the resource.
The Flu Wiki
The Flu Wiki aims to help local communities prepare for and cope with a possible influenza pandemic.

Open directory project: Avia Flu

The Open Directory Project is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web. It is constructed and maintained by a vast, global community of volunteer editors.
Singapore Government Flu.gov
News review and general information from Singapore Government.