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Category: National

  • CropLife Asia Echoes FAO Call to Transform our Food Systems

    CropLife Asia Echoes FAO Call to Transform our Food Systems

    With the release of the United Nations (UN) 2021 State of Food Security & Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, CropLife Asia highlighted the need for the region’s food value chain stakeholders to work together in transforming our food systems to better enable food security, improved nutrition, and affordable healthy diets for all.

    The challenge of achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 of ‘zero hunger’ globally by 2030 has grown even more complicated with the broad impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this latest UN report, it is estimated that the number of people affected by hunger worldwide in 2020 was between 720 and 811 million people. This is a marked increase of over 100 million more people than in 2019. The prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) has also climbed up to around 9.9 percent in 2020 compared to 8.4 percent the previous year. This new report also confirms a sadly familiar refrain for Asia: our region is failing to deliver food security for far too many – particularly among the more vulnerable parts of society. Asia continues to be home to the greatest number of undernourished people with 418 million suffering from hunger in 2020.

    “The challenge of feeding Asia and the world requires us to explore all possible solutions. This can only be achieved through greater collaboration with others, as multi-stakeholder approaches are crucial for transformation of our food systems,” said Dr Siang Hee Tan, Executive Director, CropLife Asia. “The plant science industry champions innovation in both crop protection and plant biotech, as well as precision and digital agriculture solutions to benefit both people and the planet.”

    “The innovative technologies of the plant science industry have a key role to play, but it is only one part of the solution,” Dr Tan added. “Ensuring that an ample supply of affordable and nutritious food reaches those who need it most is a shared responsibility. Farmers’ access to innovation is an increasingly crucial component to combatting food insecurity in Asia and around the world.”

    Global crop losses due to pests and disease are a major contributor to global food loss and waste. These losses would be twice as high without the use of crop protection products. Crop losses can be further reduced through more effective crop protection stewardship practices. Without innovations such as crop protection products and plant biotechnology, global pre-harvest crop losses could double. Meanwhile, biotech crops are developed with improved traits such as increased yield, better resistance to pests and/or improved nutrition, among others. These traits are crucial tools that enable farmers to produce more food using fewer resources to feed our growing world.

    About CropLife Asia

    CropLife Asia is a non-profit society and the regional organization of CropLife International, the voice of the global plant science industry. We advocate a safe, secure food supply, and our vision is food security enabled by innovative agriculture. CropLife Asia supports the work of 15 member associations across the continent and is led by six-member companies at the forefront of crop protection, seeds and/or biotechnology research and development. For more information, visit us at www.croplifeasia.org.

    For more information please contact:

    Duke Hipp
    Director, Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships
    CropLife Asia
    Tel: +65 6221 1615
    duke.hipp@croplifeasia.org

  • SMEStreet Foundation Celebrates World MSME Day With a Commitment to Add Value for Entrepreneurs Who Thrive to Exceed

    SMEStreet Foundation Celebrates World MSME Day With a Commitment to Add Value for Entrepreneurs Who Thrive to Exceed

    Every crisis has some positive takeaway. Every challenge can lead to an innovative solution that can be a benchmark. Entrepreneurs and especially the MSME entrepreneurs hold great importance because of the great spark they possess. The spark to exceed and the spark to change their own levels, and influence their respective ecosystems.

    In 2017, a United Nations resolution was passed acknowledging the importance of encouraging formalisation of the MSME segment that accounts for over 90% of all firms globally, around 70% of total employment. The UN also announced June 27th as the International or World MSME Day. A program titled ‘Enhancing National Capacities for Unleashing Full Potentials of MSMEs in Achieving the SDGs in Developing Countries’ was launched at that time. This program is conceived and operates under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund of the United Nations Peace and Development Fund.

    As SMEStreet, we are working on the aspect of MSME development from the Indian sub-continent since 2014.

    At the World MSME Day 2021, we at SMEStreet Foundation are feeling honoured to congratulate this spark of MSME entrepreneurs and their willpower to change their state of things. Our ongoing MSME Outreach, Understanding & Education program of SMEStreet GameChangers Forum which was announced recently is moving in the right direction of showcasing opportunities to MSMEs, highlighting contemporary trends, raising concerns over aspects that are impacting the business growth. The program was launched on June 15th with great participation and support from the Ministry of MSME and private institutions such as the Wadhwani Foundation.

    The SMEStreet GameChangers Forum is inviting MSMEs to join hands and participate in it so that a business can experience progress in a collaborative manner. After the great inaugural session on June 15th, in which Union MSME Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari himself delivered a keynote and made a real game-changing announcement of the revised MSME Registration process. The Secretary of Ministery of MSME, Shri BB Swain presented his perspective for MSME development in the country in the Inaugural session of SMEStreet GameChangers Forum. The journey ahead is looking eventful.

    Based on the feedback of MSMEs here are the set of activities that SMEStreet Foundation will be conducting following set activities:
    – MSME Educative Webinars With Banking & Finance, Technology Experts
    – Global Opportunities Showcase with International Stakeholders
    – National Level MSME Outreach Connect Study Report To Understand the Status of Healthcare Security among MSMEs (Entrepreneurs & MSME Employees)
    – National Level MSME Study Report on Digital Adoption of Indian MSMEs
    – MSME Outlook Report on Tech Landscape of Indian MSMEs
    – Conversations on MSME Motivation
    – Role of MSMEs in Building the New Age EV Landscape of India
    – MSMEs in Smart Mobility: Featuring Smart Mobility, Advance Transport, Fintech
    – Featuring Sector Wise Opportunities & Challenges for MSMEs in Textiles &Garments Manufacturing/Food Processing Sector/Healthcare/Manufacturing
    – Also, SMEStreet is working on creating a skill development initiative that will be aimed to add value for MSMEs and their potential workforce.

    SMEStreet Foundation is also inviting MSMEs and stakeholders of the entire ecosystem to become members of SMEStreet Foundation and become the catalysts for bringing a much needed positive change.

    “With a firm belief that collaboration and a collaborative approach can drive sustainable economic growth for MSMEs, we are working on various areas of knowledge sharing. Because Knowledge and networking play a very crucial role in making MSMEs escalate to higher levels,” says Faiz Askari, Secretary-General & Founder of SMEStreet Foundation.

    GameChangers Forum is an extension of SMEStreet Foundation’s awards recognition initiative by the name of SMEStreet GameChangers Awards. This initiative was started in 2020 after the Pandemic outbreak. This awards initiative is still on and the list of awardees who have made a significant contribution in the field of MSME Development is soon going to get announced for 2021 as well.

    In the era of the COVID Pandemic, we have witnessed the scale of this crisis. As a media platform, we realized the importance of motivating those Game Changers who paved this phase with their dedication and professional acumen in emerging as a winner for their organization, society or their business ecosystem.

    SMEStreet GameChangers is also an attempt to recognize such individual success stories who have made a significant impact in their respective horizons of business.
    With this, we would like to congratulate the entire ecosystem of MSMEs on a great year ahead on this World MSME Day, 2021.

  • Tunnel Boring Machine Arrives for Metro Manila Subway Project

    Tunnel Boring Machine Arrives for Metro Manila Subway Project

    METRO MANILA – Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko KOSHIKAWA, together with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Finance Secretary Carlos Domínguez III, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar and Presidential Spokesperson Herminio “Harry” Roque, welcomed the arrival of the first tunnel boring machine (TBM) which will be used for the 15-station Metro Manila Subway Project.

    Funded by the Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Metro Manila Subway Project will harness the power of 700-ton TBMs, measuring seven meters in diameter and 95 meters in length, to dig underground and lay tunnels for the 27-kilometer project.

    Once completed, the Metro Manila Subway will be the Philippines’ first fully underground railway system, spanning from Barangay Ugong in Valenzuela City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.

    It is seen to address congestion in Metro Manila caused by poor road networks and the rising population’s demand for a more efficient public transportation.

    TBMs will be manufactured by Japanese company and delivered from Japan to the Philippines over the course of project implementation.

    Japan’s ongoing cooperation, through a variety of official development assistance, continues to provide funds for the Philippine government to build quality infrastructure utilizing state-of-the-art Japanese technologies and expertise from years of experience in design, construction, and operation. – BusinessNews.ph

  • Negros Oriental Bettor Wins P12.3M 6/45 Mega Lotto Jackpot – PCSO

    Negros Oriental Bettor Wins P12.3M 6/45 Mega Lotto Jackpot – PCSO

    NEGROS ORIENTAL – A lone bettor from Bacong, Negros Oriental won the 6/45 Mega Lotto jackpot prize of P12.3 million on Friday’s lottery draw, according to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

    PCSO general manager Royina Garma said the winner bagged the P12,365,695.20 jackpot prize of the Mega Lotto Draw by guessing the correct winning combination – 18-19-04-13-29-06.

    Garma said 52 bettors who guessed five out of the six-digit winning combination — 18-19-04-13-29-06 — won second prize and will receive PHP32,000 each.

    The Mega Lotto 6/45 draw is held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
    The bettor is advised to present the winning ticket and two valid identification cards to claim her/his check at the PCSO’s main office in Mandaluyong City.

    Garma urged the public to patronize PCSO games to generate more funds to assist more Filipinos.

    The PCSO serves as the principal government agency to raise and provide funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and national charities.

    Megalotto 6/45 give players three chances per week to become millionaire, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

    The Initial Jackpot Prize (IJP) for Megalotto 6/45 is P8,910,000.00 (net of agent’s prize commission). If no one wins the jackpot in a particular MegaLotto 6/45 draw, the prize amount is carried forward into the next MegaLotto 6/45 draw.

    If there is more than one jackpot winner, the Jackpot prize will then be divided equally among all the winners. – BusinessNews.ph