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Environment and Energy
54.
Capacities of countries to harness renewable sources of energy was enhanced. The development and transfer of technological knowledge on rice husk gasification technology was supported in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Prospects for biogas technology in the Region was reviewed at a regional meeting. A Regional Cooperation Network on Rice Husk Gasification was formed. FAO continued to publish the "Rural Energy Bulletin". China was assisted through a UNDP project on development of an integrated energy system, encompassing alcohol production from sweet sorghum, solar systems, biogas, greenhouses, and animal housing facilities. A regional workshop on Energy Assessment and Planning for Rural and Agricultural Development was held in China with participants from the energy and agricultural sectors of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, China, Nepal, Thailand and Viet Nam. A systematic approach to rural energy problems and solutions was discussed and national strategies in this field will be developed.
V.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Follow-up of WCARRD
55.
To assess progress on implementation of the Programme of Action of WCARRD, the Sixth Regional Governmental Consultation was held in 1989. A pre-WCARRD Round Table was held in April which dealt with areas of concern to WCARRD such as appropriate policies for increasing employment in rural areas, equitable income distribution among disadvantaged groups, promotion of agricultural marketing suited to small farmers, appropriate technologies for increasing productivity and involvement of NGOs in developmental works.
56.
FAO assisted CIRDAP to conduct a Regional Workshop on setting up a Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development in Manila, 8-11 November, 1989. Assistance is also being given to conduct national workshops in the 11 member countries of CIRDAP. CIRDAP is also collaborating with FAO in undertaking a project on the organization and management of agricultural services for small farmers in six countries of Asia. The case studies will be carried out through the national network of CIRDAP's member countries. The six countries selected for study implementation are Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam. The submission of the research report is scheduled for September 1990.
Agricultural Education and Extension
57.
A global case study programme on strategies for university-level agricultural education was implemented in 1988-1989 in which four countries in the region participated: India, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. During this period India continued to receive assistance in strengthening its postgraduate agricultural education programme. Assistance in agricultural education was also carried out in the establishment of the National Agricultural Training Institute in Bhutan; in the assessment of trained manpower and agricultural training institutions; and in the formulation of a Training Master Plan for Agriculture in Papua New Guinea.
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