Committee on Food, Agriculture and Foresty
ASEAN Food Security Reserve (AFSR)
The AFSR project, in operation since July
1981, is one of the most important and successful
of ASEAN projects. As the first of its kind in the
world, it has become both a source of inspiration
as well as a practical model for similar efforts
among other developing countries.
As agreed by the Third Meeting of the AEM on
Agriculture and Forestry in August 1981, the
AFSR Board has now implemented a food information
and early warning system which provides at
the same time a base for evaluating the effectiveness
of its own operations. The Agriculture and
Forestry Ministers also agreed that the AFSR
Board examine carefully the need for reviewing the
size of the Emergency Rice Reserve presently set 'at
50,000 tons, as well as the possible inclusion of
basic food commodities other than rice.
The Second Meeting of the AFSR Board held
in Jakarta, Indonesia on 14-16 December 1981
agreed to conduct an in-depth study regarding the
size and criteria for determining the contribution
of each member country to the Emergency Rice
Reserve, and furthermore, requested COFFEE to
assign the ASIAN Agricultural Development Planning
Center (ADPC) to carry out this study.
The AFSR Experts Group met in Bangkok on
27-28 January 1982 and drew up guidelines,
assumptions, possible methodologies and other
relevant information for undertaking this study.
The Special Meeting of the ASEAN Food
Security Reserve Board was held in Manila on
13-16 May 1982 to consider the study undertaken
by the ADPC on the adequacy of the Emergency
Rice Reserve in the light of more recent
developments in food and agriculture in the
ASEAN region. It also received the progress made
in the implementation of the AFSR improved food
information and early warning system.
Production and Supply of Fertilisers,
Pesticides and other Agricultural Inputs
Pursuant to the decision of the Agricultural
and Forestry Ministers, and as directed by COFAF,
the Coordinating Group on Crops was assigned to
undertake a study on the supply and demand of
non-urea fertiliser in ASEAN.
With regard to the ASEAN Pesticide Manufacturing
Project, under the joint purview of
COFAF and COIME, the pre-feasibility study,
prepared under the sponsorship of the U.S. Trade
and Development Programme, was completed in
August 1981. The main findings of this Study are
as follows:
(a) Although the total pesticide market in
ASEAN was estimated to be US$ 445 million in
1979, the corresponding active ingredient (AT -
i.e., that part of the product which is toxic or kills
the pest) consumption was only approximately
US$ 47.2 million.
(b) Of this, the demand is highest for organophosphate
active ingredients amounting to US$ 24
million. A multi-product organophosphate plant is
suggested. However, expansion of existing herbicide
plants is also suggested.
(c) 80 percent of the value of raw materials/
intermediates required to produce the pesticide
active 'ingredients will have to be imported through
the 1980's.
(d) The pesticide market data available discloses
certain contradictions and uncertainties, so
that accurate projections of growth were not
possible.
(e) Capital costs depend heavily on process
requirements, number of process steps, raw
material sources, capacity estimates, etc.
ASEAN Quarantine Ring
With regard to the ASEAN Plant Quarantine
Ring, the ASEAN Plant Quarantine Centre and
Training Institute (PLANTI), established in
January 1981, is currently in operation. The main
role of PLANTI is to provide a focal point and
coordinating mechanism for improving all plant
quarantine activities in the ASEAN region through
training, research and information exchange. To
strengthen the Quarantine Ring, a Meeting in the
Standardisation of Plant Quarantine Treatment for
Export and Import of Planting Material was held
in July 1981, and an ASEAN declaration drafted
on measures to be taken with regard to plant
quarantine. Pursuant to the decision of the Agricultural
Ministers, the Coordinating Group on
Crops has also been instructed to implement the
Ministers' decision regarding the adoption of a Pest
Risk Analysis by ASEAN member countries. In
this connection, work has already been carried out
in the categorisation of pests and diseases in
accordance with the hazards the organisms
imposed, together with provisions for periodic
review by PLANTI.
With regard to animal quarantine, the
feasibility study on the proposed ASEAN Common
Regional Animal Quarantine Centre (ACRAQC)
was finalised by the Australian Team in January
1982. On the basis of the feasibility study and
follow-up discussions between ASEAN officials
and the consultants, it was decided that the
ACRAQC project was not feasible and it would be
more advantageous for ASEAN to strengthen its
national quarantine stations. The following
national quarantine stations were identified by the
respective ASEAN member countries for
upgrading:
Indonesia : Kepala Jernih
Malaysia : Kuantan
Philippines: Alabang
Singapore : Jurong
Thailand : Bangkok
On the standardisation of import and quarantine
regulations on animal and animal products, the
Animal Protection Programme Group Meeting in
Singapore in April 1982 agreed to standardise
various ASEAN regulations relating to the importation
of livestock and livestock products from
outside ASEAN as well as the intra-ASEAN movement
of animals and animal products. Various
other regulations in this field ace currently under
study with a view to standardisation.
In the realm of fish quarantine for aquaculture,
where ASEAN very badly needs a really effective
system of, preventing the spread of fish diseases and
parasites within the region or from without,
COFAF has drawn up a detailed project for
implementation. This project consists of two
phases. Under phase 1, an inventory shall be made
on the agents of fish diseases which require quarantine
control and a project paper formulated for the
establishment of appropriate quarantine centres
and stations. Phase II envisages a substantive programme
of research, and the establishment of
regional standards and procedures, including
common legislation. It is hoped that third country
assistance could be obtained for this project.
Pooling of Research and Technology
At the Ninth COFAF Meeting, it was agreed,
pursuant to the decision of the Third Meeting of
the Agricultural Ministers, that the ASEAN
Agricultural Research Coordinating Board
(AARCB) be recommended to: (a) identify
priority areas for research in agriculture, livestock,
forestry and fisheries, and coordinate research
thrusts to avoid duplication and monitor progress
of results; (b) establish necessary linkages with the
regional International Board for Plant Genetic
Resources (IPBGR) in Bangkok with a view to
avoid duplication of function in the establishment
of a germplasm bank; (c) identify mature technologies
and improve germplasm developed by
member countries of the ASEAN region which are
ready for dissemination; (d) institutionalise
transfer of technology, including technology
verification in each country, with the assistance of
the Council of ASEAN Directors on Extension
(CADEX) for rapid adoption throughout ASEAN.
The question of the development of a germ-
plasm bank was further discussed at the Second
Meeting of the Coordinating Group on Crops in
December 1981 where a programme of "ASEAN
Cooperation in the Field of Genetic Resources,
Conservation and Utilisation of Agricultural
Crops" was adopted.
ASEAN Agricultural Development Planning Center
The ADPC, established with U.S. assistance in
Bangkok in 1980, aims at providing education and
training in agricultural development in ASEAN. It
also functions as a data and information collecting
and disseminating centre for member countries.
Since its establishment, it has also developed in the
direction of a "think-tank" for COFAF in the
formulation of strategic policy guidelines for
future cooperation in the field of food, agriculture
and forestry.
Food Handling
In food handling, the ASEAN Food Handling
Bureau, established under the Food Handling Project
in January 1981, has now developed as the
main communication link between the Sub-Committee
on Food Handling and its various
Working Groups on Grains, Livestock, Fish and
Horticulture.
The various food handling projects, ranging
from the multifarious aspects of the processing,
packaging, transportation and quality of control of
grains, vegetables, fruit, horticultural produce,
livestock and fish, to manpower development and
abattoir designing, has made good progress over the
year, and has translated at ground level the overall
objective of the Food Handling Project to improve
the quality of food handling and cut post harvest
spoilage and wastage in the ASEAN countries.
Cooperation in Forestry
The "Jakarta Consensus on ASEAN Tropical
Forestry", signed by the Ministers of Agriculture
and Forestry in August 1981, sets out a comprehensive
programme of cooperation that covers,
among other things, the adoption of a common
forestry policy, the promotion of technical cooperation,
the establishment of suitable institutions,
cooperation in timber trade, and an ASEAN
common stand on international issues.
As an initial step in the implementation of this
programme, COFAF, upon the recommendation of
its Coordinating Group on Forestry, has agreed to
set up four ad hoc Experts Groups in each of the
following areas: Forest Resources Conservation
and Management, to be led by Malaysia; Timber
Production and Processing to be led by the Philippines;
Timber Marketing and Trade, to be led by
Thailand; and Forest Environment and Wildlife,
to be led by Indonesia.
With regard to the need for establishing suitable
institutions to implement the Jakarta
Consensus, COFAF has recommended that the
Coordinating Group on Forestry come up with a
study on the feasibility and detailed mechanism for
the establishment of suitable institutions, such as
the Institute of Forest Management, the Timber
Industry Research, Development and Training
Centre and other similar institutions.
New Project Proposals
The Ninth COFAF Meeting endorsed the
following three projects which were subsequently
approved by the Twelfth AEM Meeting for possible.
third country funding:
(a) ASEAN Agricultural Project Formulation.
The objective of this project is to strengthen the
capability of COFAF to undertake the proper
development, monitoring and evaluation of
projects in its area of competence.
(b) ASEAN Fish Quarantine Project. As noted
above, the objective of this project is to establish a
fish quarantine system among ASIAN countries to
safeguard their aquaculture from the spread of
diseases both within and from without the region.
(c) ASEAN Food Handling Sub-Committee
Programme for New Projects 1982-1983 to
1984-1985. The objectives of these projects are to
increase the operational efficiency of post harvest
food handling and reduce post harvest spoilage and
waste. They are envisaged to consolidate and
expand the facilities and services already established
under the ASEAN Food Handling Project.
For more information, please refer to the project details