ReSAKSS Asia

Research and data for food security and nutrition: Building food policy research capacity in Eurasia

June 7, 2017

International Conference on Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition in Eurasia (May 26, 2017, Moscow) brought together over 100 participants.

Building strong domestic capacity for food policy research in Eurasia is important for ensuring food and nutrition security in the region. This idea, reiterated by all speakers and participants, was the keynote of the International Conference on Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition in Eurasia held at Lomonosov Moscow State University on May 26, 2017. [Read more...]

IFPRI Central Asia News Digest (May 31 – June 6, 2017)

June 6, 2017

News
IMF completes mission to Tajikistan
(May 31) Representatives from the International Monetary Fund concluded a two-week mission to Tajikistan on May 30, during which it discussed reforms and the possible resumption of talks to start IMF-supported programs in the country. The IMF press release commented favorably on recent financial reforms and efforts to unify the official and market exchange rates, which had diverged in 2016 in the midst of an economic crisis in the country. It also described additional steps that the Tajik government would need to take in order to facilitate closer cooperation with the IMF. – IMF [Read more...]

IFPRI CA News Digest (April 18, 2017 – April 25, 2017)

April 27, 2017

News
Power station’s heat allows unique fish farm in Karaganda

(19 April 2017 Astana Times) Natur Produkt farm has been culturing rainbow trout at the Topar Lake 40 kilometers from Karaganda since last year. Close proximity to the Karaganda GRES 2 power station creates unique conditions for fish culturists; thermal release from the power station’s maintains ideal temperatures at a one-hectare pond at no cost to the farm. [Read more...]

Call for Applications: 2017 Regional Summer School for Young Economists

April 6, 2017

Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) invite young economists, researchers and graduate students to participate in the Regional Training Course (Summer School) on Applied Econometric Analysis from June 12 to June 23, 2017. The aim of the Summer School is to strengthen the capacity of young economists in Central Asia, specifically those of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, for quantitative research, economic policy analysis, and, in particular, for econometric analysis of socioeconomic phenomena in the context of economics and related social sciences. [Read more...]

IFPRI CA News Digest (March 15, 2017 – March 21, 2017)

March 21, 2017

News
Europe, Central Asia transitioning to new nutrition challenges, cautions UN agency
(14 March 2017 UN) UN’s FAO released a new regional overview of Europe and Central Asia earlier this month, sub-titled “The Food Security Transition.” The report calls for a change in thinking of nutrition policies in the region, moving from concerns over calorie sufficiency to focusing on healthy and balanced diets. [Read more...]

IFPRI CA News Digest (March 1, 2017 – March 7, 2017)

March 7, 2017

News
ADB President Visits Uzbekistan to Strengthen Partnership, Signs 4 New Loan Agreements
(3 March 2017 ADB) ADB President Takehiko Nakao signed four new loan agreements totaling $573 million. The sum will be divided among the Small Business Finance Project ($100 million), the Tashkent Province Water Supply Development Project ($121 million), the Horticultural Value Chain Development Project ($154 million), and the Kashkadarya Regional Road project ($198 million).

[Read more...]

IFPRI CA News Digest (February 22, 2017 – February 28, 2017)

February 28, 2017

News
Uzbekistan interested to join Trans-Caspian transport route
(23 February 2017 Trend) During the 16th meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission on bilateral cooperation that took place February 22, Kazakh and Uzbek railway companies discussed the possibility of sending Uzbek exports and imports through Kazakh ports via the Trans-Caspian international transport route. They also reached an agreement on granting discounts on transportation of Kazakh grain and flour and goods in 45 feet refrigerators, and transit of Uzbek fruits and vegetables and other agricultural products via the territory of Kazakhstan. [Read more...]

IFPRI CA News Digest (February 8, 2017 – February 14, 2017)

February 15, 2017

News

Uzbek farmers offered lemon trees and chickens
(9 February 2017 Reuters) The government of Uzbekistan plans to provide 850,000 households with 100 chickens each and help 1.07 million households and small farms build greenhouses for 4.2 million trees. The cabinet plans to set up specialized companies that will first supply households with chickens and seedlings, then buy the eggs and lemons they produce for export. [Read more...]

Regional Training Course on Applied Econometric Analysis (Summer School) for Young Economists – Training materials

February 14, 2017

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with its partner institution based in Central Asia - Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) - held a Training Course on Advanced Applied Econometrics from September 13 – 23, 2016, for the third consecutive year. This two-week training course for young researchers from the region took place at WIUT in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Twenty participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan participated in the training. Participants were selected on a competitive basis based on their interest and background in applied research, as well as their knowledge and skill level in quantitative methods. [Read more...]

Applied Econometric Analysis for Young Researchers

February 7, 2017

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with its partner institution based in Central Asia - Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) - held a Training Course on Advanced Applied Econometrics from September 13 – 23, 2016, for the third consecutive year. This two-week training course for young researchers from the region took place at WIUT in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Twenty participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan participated in the training. Participants were selected on a competitive basis based on their interest and background in applied research, as well as their knowledge and skill level in quantitative methods. [Read more...]

Training Course on Introductory Applied Econometrics using Stata in Tajikistan

December 29, 2016

 

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) together with the Tajik Academy of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) held a training course titled “Introductory Applied Econometrics using Stata” during 14 – 18 November 2016 at the National Library of Tajikistan in Dushanbe.

The aim of this one-week training course was to strengthen the capacity of young researchers in Tajikistan. The training program was designed to introduce participants with principles of conducting empirical research in economics and related fields using modern statistical tools and computer applications. [Read more...]

Introductory Applied Econometrics Analysis Using Stata

December 29, 2016

Introductory Applied Econometrics Analysis Using Stata

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) together with the Tajik Academy of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) held a training course titled “Introductory Applied Econometrics using Stata” during 14 – 18 November 2016 at the National Library of Tajikistan in Dushanbe.  The training was supported by CGIAR Research Programs on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) and Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH), and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. [Read more...]

What Is the Future of Small Farms in Asia?

October 28, 2016

The vast majority of farms in Asia are small-scale and are becoming smaller due to population growth and further subdivision. The average farm size halved in India between 1971 and 2006 and the number of farms less than 1 ha in Bangladesh increased from about 50 percent in 1976 to 90 percent in 2005 (Otsuka 2013). As farm sizes shrink, many throughout the region have begun to wonder whether small family farms are still a viable livelihood option. [Read more...]

Revitalizing Agriculture in Rural Myanmar

October 5, 2016

The potential for agriculture in Myanmar is enormous, given the country’s favorable geographic location and resource endowments. Government statistics show it is the largest economic sector and the main source of livelihood for nearly 60 percent of the population. Yet agricultural productivity in Myanmar is low compared with most of Southeast Asia. Achieving productivity levels similar to those of its agro-ecologically similar neighbors could significantly raise rural incomes and reduce overall poverty and malnutrition. Doing that will require large amounts of investment by government and private agro-enterprises of all sizes. Government policies will likewise have an important part to play in creating an enabling environment for private sector growth.

[Read more...]

Tajikistan Spatial

September 30, 2016

On September 20, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the University of Central Asia’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration (UCA IPPA) launched Tajikistan Spatial, an interactive online portal providing information about food security and development for policymakers, researchers, and the general public. The platform was launched in collaboration with the Local Development Committee under the President of Tajikistan. The Committee will promote the use of the online platform among policy-makers and researchers. [Read more...]