The topic of this important APO regional initiative in Asia and the Pacific is the most challenging. Going through some of the latest technical documentation from FAO and other sources there is an overwhelming amount of literature presenting data, views and policy advice on a broad range of issues. The focus here is on the role of government institutions, traditional and new players, their capacities, mandate, ways of operation at the national and decentralised levels and their linkages with the private sector partner institutions at all levels.
In the background information provided by APO, two main features are highlighted: (1) Privatisation and what it means for both the government and private institutions (GI’s and PI’s) for promotion of agriculture and rural development. (2) New roles of GI’s and preconditions for effectiveness of activities by PI’s at the local community level. APO also recognises the trend towards promotion of people-based organisations, which are self-regulating and self-supporting in their operations, where innovation, drive and initiative can flourish. In view of the different national development conditions among the Asian and Pacific countries there is need for consensus building on some core issues and areas of policymaking which will provide a common ground for fruitful discussions on defining the new role of government institutions to effectively promote agriculture and rural development. Core issues and policy areas, which in any society determine the capacity to bring progress and development, are:
1. People
2. Resources
3. Technology
4. Trade
5. Policy & Institutional Capacities
Looking at the main features of each of these five core issues and policy areas we may be able to identify strategies and opportunities for GI’s to promote agriculture and rural development in partnership with the private institutions.
