By Cielito M. Reganit
MANILA, Sept. 11 (PNA) – The 15th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministers of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (AMAF+3) in Manila adopted Friday the ASEAN Plus Three Bioenergy and Food Security Framework 2015-2025 with the objective of assisting ASEAN Member States in ensuring that sustainable, food-secure and climate-friendly bioenergy contributes to the economic development.
In a joint statement, the AMAF+3 ministers said that this was to reaffirm the promotion of bioenergy towards sustainable agriculture and rural development in support of the Cha-am Hua Hin Statement on ASEAN plus Three Cooperation on Food Security and Bioenergy Development adopted by the ASEAN Leaders in 2009.
The delegates said that they were pleased with the significant progress made in the implementation of cooperation activities and projects under the nine Strategic Thrusts of the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Strategy (APTCS) on Food, Agriculture and Forestry 2011-2015.
These include strengthening food security; enhancement of capacity-building and human resource development, sustainable forest management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, strengthening of information system and knowledge networking and exchange; and enhancement of productivity, quality and marketability of agriculture and agricultural products.
The ministers also expressed their appreciation to the good progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Agreement as it is the main mechanism for strengthening regional food security and reducing poverty.
They took special note of the implementation of Tier 3 program to aid the super typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) victims in the Philippines.
The program was completed with distribution of 6,730 metric tons (MT) of rice contributed by China, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan.
The last distribution was 580 MT of rice from Japan.
The ministers also noted that the APTERR Secretariat has started the implementation of Tier 3 (pre-positioned stockpiled rice system) under Japan’s 2015 contribution by seeking prospective host countries in which to store the donated rice.
The AMAF+3 meeting also noted the need to have preparatory stage to work on the details of ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) permanent mechanism, including consideration of various possible mechanisms and the arrangement of AFSIS Secretariat.
The ASEAN Ministers extended their appreciation to the Plus Three Countries for providing support in the implementation of ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Strategy (APTCS) on Food, Agriculture and Forestry 2011-2015.
The AMAF+3 Ministers finally expressed their sincere appreciation to the Government and the Filipino people for their warm hospitality and excellent arrangements made for the Meeting.
The 15th AMAF+3 Meeting was chaired by Philippine Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.
He was joined by Pehin Dato Yahya Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Brunei Darussalam; Dr. Ouk Rabun, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Cambodia; Dr. A. Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Agriculture, Indonesia; Dr. Phouang Parisak Pravongviengkham, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR; Dato’ Sri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Malaysia;
U Myint Hlaing, Union Minister for Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; Ms. Tan Poh Hong, Chief Executive Officer, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, Singapore; Dr. Wimol Jantrarotai, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand; Dr. Le Quoc Doanh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viet Nam; and
Chen Xiaohua, Vice Minister of Agriculture, People’s Republic of China; Toshiko Abe, State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan; Oh Kyung Tae, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Republic of Korea; and Le Luong Minh, Secretary General of ASEAN.
The 16th Meeting of AMAF Plus Three will be held in Singapore in 2016. (PNA)