Regional Workshop on Disability-Inclusive Agribusiness Development
21-22 February 2013 | United Nations Convention Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
Organized by Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), The Nippon Foundation, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)


Contents: search ## to go to next topic
1. about organizers
2. Executive Summary
3. Bangkok Recommendations on Disability-Inclusive Agribusiness Development


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1. about organizers
The Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) is a regional center on disability and development. APCD was established in Bangkok, Thailand as a legacy of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002, with the joint collaboration of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Royal Thai Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Government of Japan. In cooperation with more than thirty countries in the Asia-Pacific region, APCD is currently managed by the APCD Foundation under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific recently identified APCD as the regional center on disability for the Incheon Strategy to Make the Right Real, 2013-2022.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that strives for  a world free of hunger and malnutrition where food and agriculture contribute to improving the living standards of all, especially the poorest, in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner. FAO assists member countries with policy advice and technical expertise in agriculture, economic and social development, fishery, forestry and sustainable development to make the region food-secure for present and future generations. FAO undertakes many interrelated activities in support of food security, rural poverty alleviation, and institutional and human capacity building mainly through meetings, publications, and by serving regional technical commissions and FAO-sponsored regional bodies. In addition, FAO plays a major role as an agency for investment support and promotes technical cooperation among developing countries as a main thrust of its activities in the region.

The Nippon Foundation (TNF) is a non-profit philanthropic organization working actively in Japan and around the world. Initially its efforts focused on the maritime and shipping fields, but since then the range of activities has expanded to education, social welfare, public health and other fields in more than 100 countries. Contributions from TNF have played a decisive role in promoting a peaceful and prosperous global society in partnership with more than 20 organizations. TNF identify change round the world in its earliest stages and work on the solutions quickly. The innovative ideas are implemented to make a better society for all.


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2. Executive Summary
Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over a billion people, about 15% of the total population, live with disabilities. The World Bank has estimated that persons with disabilities may have accounted for as many as one in five of the wolds poorest. Persons with disabilities make up one of the most significant marginalized and vulnerable groups. It is likely to find facilities and the disability-related services inadequate. Many people with disabilities cant access services to meet the needs of persons with disabilities to access to education, health care, transportation, information and livelihood opportunities. These difficulties are exacerbated in developing countries. 

870 million people live undernourished. Most of them (563 millions) live in Asia and the Pacific. The number of hungry people in Asia and the Pacific decreased but it has been reversed as a result of high food price and the global economic downturn since 2008. Hunger and malnutrition are still a great threat to public health especially marginalized groups. Persons with disabilities are the frontline of hunger.

Striving hunger and achieving food security for all to ensure that everyone in society has access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs. Persons with disabilities have special needs but are often marginalized and overlooked in development. Development should be equitable, inclusive and accessible for all in order to benefit all of society. Including persons with disabilities by boosting their food production can improve employment opportunity and income generation. 

In response to the situation, the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), the Nippon Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized the Regional Workshop on Disability-Inclusive Agribusiness. This regional workshop was designed to promote understanding of the current situation of agribusiness practitioners with disabilities, share knowledge and experiences, enhance collaborations and efforts among various concerned stakeholders, and identify follow-up actions. 

The regional workshop was the first official event related to disability-inclusive agribusiness at the United Nations level, as well as the first disability-inclusive business initiative in the new Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, initiated by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). 

The participants of the Workshop included persons with disabilities, policy makers, government representatives, international development partners, and civil society organizations. More specifically, the Regional Workshop was attended by 26 senior government officials from the ministries related to social welfare and agriculture, 27 business practitioners, 17 Disable Peoples Organizations (DPOs) from 7 countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam, together with, 35 representatives from international organizations. 



Item 1: Opening Session

The workshop was opened in the presence of Mr. Tej Bunnag, the Chairman of the Executive Board, Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), Mr. Shun-ichi Murata, the Deputy Executive Secretary, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma, the Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, the Food and  Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Mr. Shuichi Ohno, the Executive Director, International Cooperation Department, The Nippon Foundation.

The opening session highlighted the importance of defining the concept of disability-inclusive business to explore deeply into the significance of agribusiness, especially in the context of the Asia-Pacific region which is largely rural and is where persons with disabilities mostly live. It was also stressed that the workshop is designed to highlight the trends, gaps and good practices in the field of agribusiness in relations to persons with disabilities. The expected outcome is stronger involvement of business, agribusiness practitioners, governments, civil society, the United Nations and other international organizations in developing future strategies to make business environments more disability-inclusive. Four major strategies include developing partnership between different stakeholders, establishing a collaborative framework to create a sustainable mechanism for the implementation of disability-inclusive agribusiness, supporting and promoting good practices and success stories on disability-inclusive agribusiness to inspire and encourage replication in other communities and emphasizing the belief in the capacity of persons with disabilities.

Item 2: Policy-Enabling Environment for Disability-Inclusive Business Development

Mr. Monthian Buntan, Member of Senate / APCD Executive Board Member emphasized that disability-inclusive policies could be developed using approaches through creating the environment that is accessible to people with disabilities based on the principle of universal design and the use of assistive technologies, encouraging and supporting persons with disabilities and their representative organizations to fully and effectively participate in all steps and procedures of policy formulation, implementation and evaluation; and supporting economic empowerment of person with disabilities, including in the area of business development, and organizations in order to sustain their livelihood and promote active/productive participation. 
Mr. Supree Baosingsauy, Assistant Vice President, Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited  added that private sector has increasingly gained awareness of inclusive society and the company itself has initiated projects concerning skill development for people with disabilities so that they can increase their familys income and livelihood by learning how to raise aquaculture and poultry within their communities.

Mr. Sture Patrik Andersson, Chief, Social Integration Section, Social Development Division, ESCAP highlighted on the launch of ESCAP-Sasakawa Asia-Pacific Disability Inclusive Business Award which is developed in partnership between ESCAP, the Nippon Foundation and APCD, with the purpose to publicly recognize businesses demonstrating disability-inclusive business operations and to raise awareness of the opportunities of disability-inclusive business operations. The businesses have a high potential for competition as there are 650 million persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, a market twice the size of the euro zone. Business model revolves around enabling working environment, organizational culture and inclusive products and services while the model requires involvement from consumers, employees and entrepreneurs.

Dr. Charida Pukahuta, Assistant Professor, Ubon Ratchathani University presented the experience of training on mushroom cultivation for persons with disabilities in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. She shared that the project, initiated since 1999 with cooperation between FAO and the Thai government, was aimed to support people with disabilities to initiate their own mushroom farms. The training provided rehabilitation of body and mind, processes and techniques in mushroom cultivation and enterprise development. The post project report conducted in 2003 revealed that 41, out of 123 participants, have established their own mushroom farms. Key factors for sustainable development on mushroom cultivation involved dedicated and supportive staff members, after training evaluation and monitoring, cooperation between involving sectors, governments strong recognition and supportive public policies, business sectors concerns, facilitative and accessible environment and strong networking.

Mr. Akiie Ninomiya, Executive Director, Asia-Pacific Development Center for Disability emphasized that disability-inclusive business is an enterprise that has a positive impact on disability-friendly environment, communication, attitude, policy and regulation. It is an emerging business trend that strives to address disability, work and employment from the perspective of persons with disabilities as customers, employees, employers, and entrepreneurs. In collaboration with FAO and the Nippon Foundation, APCD conducted pioneering research on more than 60 case studies in targeted ASEAN countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Forty-five active cases were identified as having elements of disability-inclusive agribusiness. Based on the experiences of disability-inclusive agribusiness practitioners and a growing need for information in this area, the study has identified good practice models and a range of challenges for disability-inclusive agribusiness. Challenges found from the study included understanding disability within the business context and synergy between efficiency, innovation and accessible environment while the solutions yielded from the study comprised of supporting knowledge of persons with disabilities, strengthening multi-sectoral partnership and providing skill development and employment in accordance with market needs. Secret of successful business lay on accessible environment and the key impact was a widening of business opportunities.
Item 3: Challenges and Solutions on Disability-Inclusive Agribusiness (8 cases)

Eight selected business practitioners shared their knowledge and experience of disability-inclusive agribusiness. The representatives discussed their success and the challenges they face as business owners, suppliers and employees. Various innovative solutions by persons with disabilities were noted.

Mr. Ya Bunly, farm owner of Bunly Fish Farm from Cambodia, presented that permaculture has been practiced at Bunly Fish Farm to ensure the sustainability of natural resources and the enrichment of local ecosystems. He has exercised principles that all resources are fully utilized and it is possible to achieve greater productivity while using less input. By using permaculture, the farm will reap the benefits of a sustainable environment for generations to come. The family-operated farm comprises carp, catfish and tilapia which are among the most profitable and easiest fish to farm in shallow waters due to their tolerance of most water conditions, dietary behavior and rapid growth. The annual profits for the business can be as high as KHR 2 million (USD 500). He has managed to use the waste from the fish farm to make fertilizer for plants and vegetables while he also takes care of livestock such as chicken, ducks, pigs and turtles. He uses landmarks, such as trees, within his working environment to enable him to negotiate the day to day running of the business.

Mr. Rukijan, operator of Rukijan Fish and Livestock Farm from Indonesia, showed that Rukijan Fish and Livestock Farm produces catfish fingerlings as the main product. The family business is run by Mr. Rukijan who has a physical disability and undertook training on catfish production from the Center for Improving Qualified Activity in Life of People with Disabilities (CIQAL) in 2010. He received initial capital from CIQAL to establish the business. The fingerlings are breed in a two month cycle. When the production is going well, a maximum of 50,000 catfish fingerlings can be sold per cycle at a cost of IDR 6 million (USD 623). Before investing on catfish farming, Mr. Rukijans main income source was selling chickens to a market wholesaler at a local market while his wife earned from weaving coconut palm leaves into bags for sale. These days, the family still sells chickens and bags at the market, but catfish fingerlings are the main source of income.

Ms. Bang-On Wongpakdee, Bang-On Paddy Field in Lao PDR said that she started paddy field in 2004 and has successfully generated annual profit from rice sales at approximately LAK 8 million (USD 1000). In addition to rice, Nile Tilapia fish is nurtured for self-consumption and to share with her neighbors and relatives. Chicken and ducks are raised and sold in emergency situations when cash is needed. Ekphatthana Microfinance Institution (EMI) granted a loan for Ms. Bang-On Wongpakdee in 2009 and has currently offered a special interest rate for her as she has been considered a reliable customer. 

Mr. Ko Than Oo, founder of Ko Than Oo Farm in Myanmar said that the farm has recently expanded and diversified its business by moving from traditional agricultural production of betel leaf, rambutan and pomelo to include a chicken farm. The family-run Ko Than Oo Farm now sells nine hundred eggs per day, supplies six outlets and has more than doubled its profits. Mr. Ko Than Oo acquired first-hand knowledge on raising chickens from his parents and attended a training provided by a local chicken supplier of CP Livestock, which is one of the biggest agribusinesses in the Asia-Pacific region. Based on the success of the diversification of his operation and increasing profits, Mr. Ko Than Oo has now planned to buy another thousand chicks.

Mr. Donald Aquino Carpio, a farmer in the SM City Rosales Pick and Pay, SM City Rosales in the Philippines presented that, in 2009, the corporate has launched pick and pay marketing concept, which aims to develop an urban vegetable garden. In partnership with Harbest Agribusiness Corporation, SM Hypermart and Supermarket, and SM Foundation Inc., the management thought of utilizing the vacant plot of land next to its mall. Two hundred local farmers were trained in an urban farming course to develop an urban garden in the heart of Rosales city, with the main products grown being papaya, eggplant, chili, and chickens are raised for eggs. Due to the success of the program, it was decided to include farmers with disabilities in the training. 

Mr. Suk Perasaen, owner of Suk Chicken Farm in Thailand, presented in the workshop that it has been eleven years since he started his broiler chicken farm.  Four times a year, he works on chicken production as a contract farmer with the Betagro Group. Through a friend who had a successful contract chicken farm with the Betagro Group, Mr. Suk became familiar with the idea of contract farming. Unlike pigs and cattle, he felt that chickens, due to their smaller size, were a manageable option. He makes a gross profit of THB 100, 000 (USD 3,361) per cycle. Mr. Suks wife supports him in this endeavor as the chicken farm enables him to work at home and brings about sustainable employment. His wife and his wifes sister work with him on the farm where they also breed cat fish and grow onions and garlic for subsistence. They have a rice field, but as they do not own a mill the rice is sold and rice bran is bought from the Betagro Group to feed the chickens.

Mr. Sanae Thoobhom, owner of Sanae Chicken Farm in Thailand, began contract farming with the Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) eleven years ago. He has expanded his production to double the size within three and a half years, which equates to three rounds of egg laying production. A friend of his started a contract chicken farm and became very successful, which encouraged Mr. Sanae to consider his own enterprise. Mr. Sanae established the contract farming business with the Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) and, after receiving positive benefits, he has expanded the size of the farms livestock. 

Phu Hoa Cooperative is located in Vietnam. According to Cooperative member Mr. Nguyen Khac Quy , Phu Hoa Cooperative runs a range of agribusinesses including a fish farm, a melon crop and a pigeon farm. Generally the Cooperative initiates a business and then transfers the required knowledge to individual members to run it. Sixty-one year old Mr. Nguyen Khac Quy, who has a share in the Cooperative, was trained to manage the pigeon farm and the everyday care of the stock. When he was twenty-six he had his legs amputated due to a blood disease. He manages all his daily work activities with the use of two small chairs and he uses a tricycle to move around outside the farm. The pigeons are either sold when they are a month old as squab to restaurants or at five to six months old for breeding stock. 
 
Item 4: Way Forward/Future Actions

The panelists acknowledged that the enforcement of disability-inclusive agribusiness poses challenges as well as strives for solutions. Two major factors, accessibility and finance, played crucial roles in putting inclusive agribusiness into practice. Exclusion of people with disabilities from the society derived from both internal and external barriers. PWDs low self-esteem is one of the major causes to preclude themselves from being active in business making. However, the greater numbers of barriers came from societal perceptions, including misconception of other community members who see PWDs as less reliable, pre-assumption of staff from financial institutions which see PWDs as more risky and lacking of concerns from product designers to manufacture products usable for PWDs.
Item 5: Consideration of the Draft Bangkok Recommendations on Disability-Inclusive Agribusiness
Based on prior discussions, participants concluded with the following recommendations:
1. Expand enabling policies at all levels, and establish/strengthen networks that support persons with disabilities, and the public and private sectors engaged in disability-inclusive agribusiness development;
2. Develop and implement disability-inclusive policies and strategies that improve access to productive resources and assets, including credit within the agribusiness sector;
3. Promote employment and job opportunities, and create disability-friendly business environments and customer services in the agribusiness sector;
4. Support research and development, and invest in accessible technologies and infrastructure that will enable persons with disabilities to draw on their unique knowledge and abilities for effective engagement in agribusiness;
5. Improve access of persons with disabilities to affordable credit by providing reasonable provisions such as acceptable credit/interest terms, from the finance sector;
6. Create a certification/accreditation system which could add value to disability-inclusive agribusiness products and services; 
7. Further promote evidence-based research on disability-inclusive agribusiness across Asia and the Pacific to identify, promote and share good practice models for future replication;
8. Enhance skill development opportunities and on-the-job training for persons with disabilities to include them in agribusiness;
9. Raise awareness of the importance of disability-inclusive agribusiness development, share accessible information and advocate for concerted actions among sectors and partners; 
10. Consider the potential of disability-inclusive agribusiness in the discussion of the forthcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and
11. Form a network to strengthen coordination and to follow up the Recommendations at the national and regional level for actual implementation, and to meet together in the next 2 years to review and discuss the progress of disability-inclusive agribusiness.

Item 6: Closing Session

The closing session of the workshop was designed for the participants to cast their agreement on the Draft Bangkok Recommendations on Disability-Inclusive Agribusiness. The Recommendations was unanimously adopted. Following the adoption, key speakers and organizers delivered their closing remarks.

[photo caption] Opening Ceremony by APCD, UNESCAP, FAO and TNF
[photo caption]  Keynote Speech by Policy Maker and Private Sector
[photo caption] Technical Presentation on Disability-Inclusive Business and the New Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022
[photo caption] Technical Presentation on Incorporating Disability Issues in Agriculture and Food Security Intervention
[photo caption] Presentation on Latest Trend and Key Findings in Disability-Inclusive Agribusiness
[photo caption] Presentation by Selected Business Practitioners with Disabilities
[photo caption] Consideration of the Draft Bangkok Recommendations on Disability-Inclusive Agribusiness Development
[photo caption] Closing Session by APCD, TNF and FAO


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3. Bangkok Recommendations on Disability-Inclusive Agribusiness Development

We, the representatives of government agencies representing the sectors concerning disability, social welfare and development, agriculture, the business sector, civil society organizations, including groups and organizations of persons with disabilities, the United Nations and other international partners, from the Asia-Pacific region met at the United Nations Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, from 21st to 22nd February 2013, at the Regional Workshop on
Disability-Inclusive Agribusiness Development. Comprised of over 120 delegates, theWorkshop was organized by the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), theFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The Nippon Foundation.

Participants recognized that persons with disabilities make up a significant part of the worldsmost vulnerable and disadvantaged population, often excluded from productive resources and livelihood opportunities. According to the World Report on Disability, issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank in 2011, 15% of the world total population is persons with disabilities. In Asia and the Pacific, it is estimated that approximately 40% of the
population is persons with disabilities and their family members. Highlighting food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition continues to be a major challenge.
According to WHO, the biggest cause of disability is malnutrition. The global prevalence of malnutrition and hunger remains unacceptably high. From 2010 to 2012, it was estimated that nearly 870 million people were undernourished. The Asia-Pacific region holds the largest share, 62 % of the world chronic hunger population. Despite all efforts, there has been little improvement in recent times due to widening inequity and income disparity, as well as high
and volatile food prices which affect the most vulnerable groups of society, including persons with disabilities and their family members.

Acknowledging that the Workshop was the first event after the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2011-2020, and the new Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 20132022, led by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), to showcase great initiatives, to facilitate the involvement of the business sector, disability-inclusive agribusiness practitioners, government, civil society, United Nations and international organizations to develop future strategies.

While disability-inclusive initiatives are a growing trend, the significance of agribusiness within the context of the Asia-Pacific region and the reduction of hunger and poverty has not yet been explored.

In collaboration with FAO and the Nippon Foundation, APCD conducted pioneering research on more than 60 case studies in targeted ASEAN countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Forty-five active cases were identified as having elements of disability-inclusive agribusiness. Based on the experiences of disabilityinclusive agribusiness practitioners and a growing need for information in this area, the study has identified good practice models and a range of challenges for disability-inclusive agribusiness. These challenges are defined by the selected countries individual perspectives on business, behavior and knowledge. Key findings for each challenge were shared according to the expertise of persons with disabilities as a source of numerous solutions. In addition, multisectoral partnerships and the sharing of technical expertise were acknowledged as enabling
factors.
Based on the discussions, participants concluded with the following recommendations:
1. Expand enabling policies at all levels, and establish/strengthen networks that support persons with disabilities, and the public and private sectors engaged in disabilityinclusive agribusiness development;
2. Develop and implement disability-inclusive policies and strategies that improve access to productive resources and assets, including credit within the agribusiness sector;
3. Promote employment and job opportunities, and create disability-friendly business environments and customer services in the agribusiness sector;
4. Support research and development, and invest in accessible technologies and infrastructure that will enable persons with disabilities to draw on their unique knowledge and abilities for effective engagement in agribusiness; 
5. Improve access of persons with disabilities to affordable credit by providing reasonable provisions such as acceptable credit/interest terms, from the finance sector;
6. Create a certification/accreditation system which could add value to disability-inclusive agribusiness products and services;
7. Further promote evidence-based research on disability-inclusive agribusiness across Asia and the Pacific to identify, promote and share good practice models for future replication;
8. Enhance skill development opportunities and on-the-job training for persons with disabilities to include them in agribusiness;
9. Raise awareness of the importance of disability-inclusive agribusiness development, share accessible information and advocate for concerted actions among sectors and partners;
10. Consider the potential of disability-inclusive agribusiness in the discussion of the forthcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and
11. Form a network to strengthen coordination and to follow up the Recommendations at the national and regional level for actual implementation, and to meet together in the next 2 years to review and discuss the progress of disability-inclusive agribusiness. 

Presented and unanimously adopted at the Regional Workshop on Disability-Inclusive Agribusiness Development, 22nd February 2013


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