CLOSING SESSION

Kaori Abe, Program Officer of FAO RAP, reiterated the significance of engaging the youth in agricultural activities with regards to global food security in the next ten years.  She also hoped that the workshop would encourage the participants to initiate discussions on youth in agriculture at their respective countries. 

Michael Riggs, Capacity and Development Officer of FAO Rome, gave the assurance that FAO will keep on working with AsiaDHRRA and with the countries represented in the workshop on the issue of youth participation in responsible agricultural investment.  He assured the participants that there will be more workshops on the topic. He also urged the participants to get in touch with their respective FAO country representatives/offices for support as they are the only ones that can “prioritize support.”

Marlene Ramirez, Secretary General of AsiaDHRRA, noted the significance of the workshop being a multi-stakeholder activity involving civil society organizations and representatives from the private and government sectors which increases the opportunity for the initiative to be pursued at the national level, respectively.  She also emphasized the desire of AsiaDHRRA to contribute to said national initiatives as RAI is “very much linked” to AsiaDHRRA’s strategic plan in the next five years.

She also affirmed FAO Vietnam’s plans to conduct a follow-up activity on the workshop.  She also thanked Michael Riggs for sharing the technology/tool for “capacity-building approach and process.”  She also hoped that a trainers’ training be conducted on the said tool to allow the transfer of technology to the “young leaders” in Asia.