UN-APCAEM to organize an International Seminar on Enhancing Extension of Conservation Agriculture Techniques in Asia and the Pacific

An International Seminar on Enhancing Extension of Conservation Agriculture (CA) Techniques in Asia and the Pacific will be held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China from 24-26 October 2007.

The objective of the Seminar is to promote the extension of CA techniques and enhance the awareness of agronomic, economic and environmental benefits of new developments and progress of CA through interaction amongst agricultural experts, administrators/policy makers, advisor and farmers.

CA promotes sustainable and profitable agriculture through the application of minimal soil disturbance (zero or minimum tillage), permanent soil cover and crop rotations. Good agricultural practices in North and South America, Australia and other semi-arid areas of the world have shown that CA can bring significant benefits to the development of ecological agriculture and green technology.

In developing countries, however, few farmers actually practice it. There are various reasons, including lack of transfer of technology and institutional support, and the immediate benefit to farmers are not apparent due to their differing environmental and economic situations. In this regard, APCAEM has launched two studies to review the contributions of CA to input reduction, preservation of soil structure and stability, water conservation, energy efficiency and decrease in carbon dioxide emission. The studies also compare greenhouse gas emission impact of both traditional and conservation agricultural cropping systems, and of the use of nitrogen fertilizer.

Based on the commissioned study reports, the tentative topics of the Seminar include (i) CA, environmental protection, and sustainable development; (ii) CA techniques and machinery; (iii) Application and extension services of CA; (iv) Policy and strategy for the development of CA.

The Seminar is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture of China, China Agricultural University, with in-kind contributions from the provincial government.

APCAEM is a subsidiary body / regional institution of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP). The Centre pursues its mission and implements its mandates through information exchange and knowledge sharing/networking, policy research, technical assistance in capacity building and training, outreach/advocacy programmes, and by fostering partnerships.

For further information, please contact:
United Nations Asian and Pacific Centre for Agricultural Engineering and machinery (APCAEM)
Email: info@unapcaem.org
http:// www.unapcaem.org