Mr. Konuma stated that another important policy initiative of FAO is
to build consensus on food security. As a first step, both AIT and FAO
should build on existing collaboration, and involve more students in
the process. Remarking that food security is also related to peace and
overall security, Mr. Konuma stated that the younger generation needs
to be sensitized to the importance of food and agriculture. “I have
been visiting AIT earlier, and now look forward towards working very
closely with AIT,” he said.
Welcoming Mr. Konuma, the AIT President, Prof. Said Irandoust said
that the new policy directions of FAO were promising, and AIT is keen
to not only join hands but also keen to involve students in the overall
process. Prof. Irandoust provided an overview of activities of
AIT.
Mr. Konuma, who visited AIT on 7 May 2012, also reviewed ongoing
AIT-FAO activities. In particular he reviewed four programs – "Design
and implementation of Geographical Information System (GIS) to provide
spatiotemporal analysis and to map the spread of cassava pink mealybug
(CM) and its parasitoid Anagyrus lopezi"; Wetlands Alliance Program in
support of the implementation of BOBLME-led Joint Myanmar-Thailand
Management initiative for the Mergui/Myeik Archipelago; support of the
regional study on water interventions for improving smallholder farming
and rural livelihoods in Asia and the Pacific; and provision of
services relating to Improving Marine Protected Area Management in
Thailand.
The AIT President also announced that Mr. Prabhat Kumar of AIT’s
School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) will be AIT’s
contact person for FAO-related activities. Attending the meeting were
Dr. Weerakorn Ongsakul, Dean, SERD; Dr. Mukand Singh Babel,
Coordinator, Water Engineering and Management (WEM) field of study at
AIT’s School of Engineering and Technology (SET); Dr. Theo Ebbers,
Coordinator, Wetlands Alliance Outreach; Dr. Prabhat Kumar and Dr. Abha
Mishra of SERD; Mr. P.V.Gopi Krishna, Manager, Sponsored and Contracted
Project Unit; Mr. Olivier Drean, Interim Head, External Relations and
Communications Office (ERCO), and Ms. Tiamkara Thitithamtada, Senior
Program Officer, ERCO.
