FAO Food Price Index declines in December
The benchmark measure of world food commodity prices ended 2023 approximately 10% lower than its year-earlier level.
The director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Qu Dongyu, has pledged to intensify efforts toward addressing child labour in agriculture through a dedicated work programme.
“This year, we will step up our efforts to strengthen the capacities of a wide range of agricultural actors to include child labour prevention and youth employment in their work,” he said during the virtual event launch of the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour 2021.
“Policies, programmes, and investments related to agri-food systems need to address the root causes of child labour, including household poverty,” he added.
In 2021, FAO will organise a series of regional consultations and a global event on child labour in agriculture will be held in November to increase awareness and promote good practices, he said.
Qu also emphasised that FAO would continue to play a role in the International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture, established in 2007 by FAO and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.