Report of the regional expert consultation of the Asia Pacific Network for Food and Nutrition on nutrition orientation to food production
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The incidence of underweight, stunting and wasting in the Asia-Pacific region is amongst the highest in the world. The greatest preventable micronutrient deficiencies like vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency anemia and iodine deficiency disorders occur at alarming rates. Agricultural policies which continue to emphasize agricultural production without taking into consideration their nutritional implications need to be revisited. Production policies need to be reoriented from production of grai ns alone to integrated production systems involving horizontal and vertical integration of crops, livestock, trees and aquaculture. A well developed policy environment would need to facilitate and support small-scale and semi-commercial farming systems that maximize outputs of micronutrient rich foods. Efforts should also be directed at harnessing the potential of underexploited, traditional, indigenous plants which have proved to be a rich source of micronutrients. This expert consultation held in Bangkok, Thailand from 3 to 5 October 2006 brought together experts from eight countries in the region as well as representatives from relevant agencies to provide recommendations and promote incorporation of nutrition objectives and considerations into national agricultural policies and programmes.