ECOIN
The Project Seminar, "Impact Analyses of Economic Integration on Agriculture and Policy Proposals toward Poverty Alleviation in Rural East Asia (ECOIN)", was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 19-21 May 2009. The seminar was organized by the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) and three participating countries (China, Indonesia and Thailand) of the ECOIN project were invited to present the outputs of the respective country studies from 2006-2009. Dr. Henny Mayrowani of the Indonesian Center for Agriculture Socio-Economic and Policy Studies presented a paper entitled "Current condition of Indonesian migrant workers: prosperities and challenges". Dr. Kang Yunhai, Economic Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Social Science, China, presented a paper entitled "Impact analysis of garlic production and trade on farm income in Yunnan Province". In addition, Dr. Pornsiri Suebpongsang, Chiang Mai Univeristy, Thailand, presented her study results focusing on the impact of trade liberalization for garlic and longan in Northern Thailand. Dr. Nongluck Suphanchaimat, Khon Kaen Univeristy, Thailand, presented a paper entitled "Feed corn production and trading system in Thailand and Lao after free trade”. Each presentation was followed by a presentation from a JIRCAS counterpart researcher in each country. The participants also discussed the policy implications drawn by the outputs of the country studies, which will be presented to the policy planners at the regional workshop planned in November 2009.

Forecasting Food Security under El Nino in Asia and the Pacific
Climate changes associated with El Niño and La Niña episodes exert dominant influences on agricultural production and food security. Over 40 per cent of global climate instability is attributable to these phenomena. More recently, there is growing concern regarding how global warming would affect world food production and availability.

The ongoing project of "Forecasting food security under El Nino in Asia and the Pacific" aims to investigate this issue by analysing food production patterns under different climate scenarios, especially those related to the El Nino phenomenon. The study will evaluate the impact of climate change on food production and availability in Asia and the Pacific. Based on the results of the study, appropriate policies to offset the impact of the El Nino phenomenon on agricultural production and ensure food security in Asia and the Pacific will be formulated and disseminated.

In this pilot phase of developing tools, three countries have been selected for direct participation: Indonesia, Malaysia and Viet Nam. It is a two-year project that commenced in February 2009. The Government of Japan is funding the project.

The target group for the results of this project consists of researchers, policymakers, government officials in ESCAP member countries, ministries of agriculture, industries and trade, national development boards, research institutes, development practitioners from CAPSA's network of national and regional partners and collaborative institutes. The direct beneficiaries of the proposed activity will be researchers and policymakers. Indirectly the study is intended to benefit the rural poor.

Expert Group Meeting on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
The Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Embassy of Indonesia for Thailand jointly organized the Expert Group Meeting on 5-6 August 2009 in Bogor, Indonesia.

Indonesia and Thailand, as close neighbouring countries, need to co-operate closely in response to the current issues of sustainable agriculture and food security. In December 2008, Indonesia and UNESCAP jointly organized a "High Level Regional Policy Dialogue on Food, Fuel and Financial Crises" in Bali and produced a Bali Outcome Document. Inspired by the Bali Meeting and as part of the programme implementation proposed at the 3rd Joint Agriculture Working Group between Indonesia and Thailand held in Phuket (May 2009) this meeting was conducted.

The meeting aimed to:

• Exchange views, knowledge and expertise between Indonesia and Thailand regarding food security;
• Acqui­re inputs from a number of stakeholders from Indonesia and Thailand concerning sustainable food agricultural policy recommendations; and
• Acquire inputs on measures that Indonesia and Thailand can take to maintain domestic food security.

Mr. LeRoy Hollenbeck, Director of CAPSA, delivered keynote remarks, together with the Ministers of Agriculture for Indonesia, Dr. Anton Apriyantono and the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr. Theera Wongsamut.

More than 100 participants attended the meeting from various related government institutions, academicians, economic and agricultural centres, entrepreneurs of agri-business and other regional and international organizations from Indonesia and Thailand.