Month: February 2023

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Lao Government have committed to improving nutrition in rural areas with US$85.29 million pledged for the effort.

Of the funding, IFAD is providing US $21.03 million as the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Green Climate Fund contribute the rest.

IFAD is co-financing two projects in the Lao PDR: the Partnerships for Irrigation and Commercialisation of Smallholder Agriculture (PICSA) project (US $30 million; 2019-2025), which focuses on intensified agricultural development, value-chain development and improved nutritional practices; and the new Agriculture For Nutrition Phase 2 (AFN Phase 2) project (US $48.30 million; 2023-2029), which builds on the results and experiences of AFN in improving food and nutrition security, enhancing climate resilience and increasing small-scale farmers’ incomes.

PICSA aims to reach 89,440 small-scale farmers and their families across 17,200 households in 353 villages of 19 districts in four provinces, including Xieng Khuang, Huaphan, Xaybouly and Luang Prabang.

These households include the nutritionally vulnerable extreme poor, poor and near-poor households. The project comprises three components: (i) intensified agricultural development; (ii) value chains developed; (iii) improved nutritional practices.

While the Lao PDR has seen significant economic growth over the last two decades, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate shocks and situation in Ukraine have constrained efforts to improve living conditions in recent years, leading to declining growth and an increase in unemployment rates and the cost of living.

The crisis has taken a serious toll on rural families, already disproportionately affected by poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition.

Over 60 per cent of people in the Lao PDR live in rural areas, and many depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Most farmers use traditional farming methods and lack access to functional irrigation and good roads. Many struggle to meet household food requirements, making malnutrition a critical issue.

Malnutrition levels remain high, with a third of children under five years of age stunted, and 40 per cent of women found to be anaemic.

“Small-scale farmers in the Lao PDR are a great example of the kind of potential we can unlock for rural people and communities in collaboration with our partners,” said Associate Vice-President of the Strategy and Knowledge Department at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Ms Jyotsna Puri.

“If we can provide access to finance, training, technology and markets, we can help rural families build more prosperous lives for themselves and reduce hunger and malnutrition. IFAD has longstanding experience around the world in working with governments to transform rural areas and we’ve seen the results of this partnership in our work with the Lao PDR as well,” she added.

Ms Jyotsna Puri and IFAD’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Ms Reehana Raza are visiting the Lao PDR between Jan 31 and Feb 1.

The visit focuses on the role of small-scale farmers in improving household nutrition and food security through sustainable agriculture.

The IFAD delegation and the UN Resident Coordinator, Sara Sekkenes, visited Oudomxay Province and saw first-hand the results of IFAD’s support through the Agriculture for Nutrition programme (AFN Phase I), financed by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) and managed by IFAD. Oudomxay Provincial Vice-Governor Ounkeo Ounalom and provincial and district authorities introduced the UN delegation to small-scale farmers who have learnt, through the AFN programme, to produce crops and livestock responding to market demands and also to connect to and collaborate with the private sector.

The delegation also met members of an agricultural production group who received grants to raise fish, pigs and poultry and grow vegetables for nutritiously balanced meals and additional incomes.

Source: Lao News Agency

Australian authorities on Wednesday found a radioactive capsule smaller than a coin that was lost in the vast Outback after nearly a week-long search along a 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) stretch of highway, officials said.

The Caesium-137 capsule was discovered when a vehicle travelling at 70 kms per hour equipped with specialist detection equipment picked up the radiation, according to officials from the state of Western Australia.

The search team then used portable detection equipment to find the capsule, which was located about 2 meters from the side of the road, they added.

“I do want to emphasize this is an extraordinary result,” Western Australia’s Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said in a news conference.

“When you consider the scope of the research area, locating this object was a monumental challenge, the search groups have quite literally found the needle in the haystack,” Dawson said.

The military was verifying the capsule and it would be taken to a secure facility in the city of Perth on Thursday, he added. Officials from Western Australia’s emergency response department, defense authorities, radiation specialists and others have been combing a stretch of highway for the tiny capsule that was lost in transit more than two weeks ago.

The radioactive capsule was part of a gauge used to measure the density of iron ore feed from Rio Tinto’s Gudai-Darri mine in the state’s remote Kimberley region. The ore was being taken to a facility in the suburbs of Perth – a distance longer than the length of Great Britain.

Officials said the capsule apparently fell off a truck and landed on the side of the road, adding that it was unlikely there will be contamination in the area.

The silver capsule, 6 mm in diameter and 8 mm long, contains Caesium-137 which emits radiation equal to 10 X-rays per hour. People had been told to stay at least five meters (16.5 feet) away from the capsule if they spotted it, because exposure could cause radiation burns or radiation sickness. However, driving past it was believed to be relatively low risk, akin to taking an X-ray.

Western Australia’s Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson said the capsule was found in a remote area far from any community and it was unlikely anyone had been exposed to radiation.

He said there would be an investigation and prosecutions would be considered under state radiation safety laws from 1975. The maximum penalty for failing to safely handle radioactive substances is $780 and $35 per day the offence continues, though the state government said on Wednesday it was considering a change to laws to allow for bigger penalties.

Source: Voice Of America

Tom Brady, who won a record seven Super Bowls for New England and Tampa, has announced his retirement from the U.S. National Football League.

Brady — the most successful quarterback in NFL history, and one of the greatest athletes in team sports — posted the announcement on social media Wednesday morning, a brief video lasting just under one minute.

“Good morning guys. I’ll get to the point right away,” Brady says as the message begins. “I’m retiring. For good.”

He briefly retired after the 2021 season, but wound up coming back for one more year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He retires at age 45, the owner of numerous passing records in an unprecedented 23-year career.

A year ago when he retired, it was in the form of a long Instagram post. But about six weeks later, he decided to come back for one more run. The Buccaneers — with whom he won a Super Bowl two seasons ago — made the playoffs again this season, losing in their playoff opener. And at the time, it begged the question about whether Brady would play again.

Only a couple weeks later, he has given the answer.

“I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first,” Brady says in the video. “I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.

“I really thank you guys so much, to every single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There’s too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love you all.”

Brady is the NFL’s career leader in yards passing (89,214) and touchdowns (649). He’s the only player to win more than five Super Bowls and has been MVP of the game five times.

Brady has won three NFL MVP awards, been a first-team All-Pro three times and selected to the Pro Bowl 15 times.

Brady and supermodel Gisele Bündchen finalized their divorce this past fall, during the Bucs’ season. It ended a 13-year marriage between two superstars who respectively reached the pinnacles of football and fashion.

It was announced last year that when Brady retires from playing, he would join Fox Sports as a television analyst in a 10-year, $375 million deal.

Source: Voice Of America