The 31 st session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific region will held in Hanoi from March 12-16.

The biennial event aims to discuss and put forward recommendations for key issues on food and agriculture impacts in the region, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

The five-day conference is expected to draw government officials from 44 FAO member countries and representatives from UN agencies, donors, development partners, international inter-governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, civil society and the business sector.

During the first three days, from 12 to 14 March, senior government officials will hold in-depth discussions on a range of issues central to food security and rural poverty alleviation in Asia-Pacific countries, regional and global policy and regulatory issues such as the state of food and agriculture in Asia-Pacific, and initiatives by the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and programme and budgetary matters.

Reports of the senior officials will be reviewed and endorsed by ministers, MARD said.

Within the conference’s framework, a round table will be held on policies to address food price volatility.

The conference is scheduled to adopt reports by March 16.-VNA