THE APO AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION FRAMEWORK SETS SIGHTS ON MODERNIZING AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY

The APO Agricultural Transformation Program is aimed at enhancing food security and meeting the future food needs in the Asia-Pacific region through increased productivity, quality, and innovation in agricultural and food systems leading to improved rural livelihoods. The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) is a regional intergovernmental organization with 20 member countries, including most of developing Asia.With rapid economic transformation, the share of agriculture in GDP and employment of APO member countries has been steadily declining, but the sector remains an important driver of rural transformation due to its key role in enhancing food security, improving nutrition, and reducing rural poverty. ReSAKSS-Asia has supported the development of the APO Agricultural Transformation Framework (ATF); a strategy document that guides member countries’ agricultural transformation strategy, largely focusing on smart agriculture development to meet growing food requirements in the face of reduced availability of arable land and water and an ageing farming population in most Asian countries.