COOPERATION IN FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY (COFAF)

1. ASEAN cooperation in the field of food, agriculture and forestry has achieved considerable progress, under the coordination of the ASEAN Committee on Food, Agriculture and Forestry (COFAF). Programmes implemented by COFAF and its subsidiary bodies are geared toward promoting further development of food, agriculture and forestry sectors within the overall framework of economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region. The common thread which binds ASEAN together is the willingness to develop and share technology which will improve the livelihood of ASEAN farmers in particular and the overall population in general.

2. ASEAN have agreed on agricultural policies of common interest and cooperated in the field of crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry and food handling. There has been common understanding on the need to improve the agricultural output by upgrading the farming methods, post harvest technology, food safety techniques and by developing new markets.

3. The 11th AMAF Meeting, held in Singapore, 9-11 November 1989, had approved a new direction taken by COFAF to involve the private sector in ASEAN development projects so that project findings could be translated into viable and profitable commercial ventures.

   Cooperation in Crops

4. The ASEAN-COFAF, Coordinating Group on Crops (CGC), held its Ninth Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia 25-27 July 1989. In order to strengthen the existing cooperation, the Coordinating Group agreed to develop the following project proposals for future activities.
   i. Unifying the use of Soil Taxonomy within ASEAN countries as an integrated approach in Rehabilitation and Reclamation of critical slopelands;

   ii. ASEAN collaborative research in Rainfed Agriculture;

   iii. Development of ASEAN Seed Industry as a vital support to Agriculture Production;

   iv. ASEAN Benchmark Sites Network for Agrotechnology Transfer (ABSNAT); and

   v. ASEAN Network on Germplasm Exchange Programme.

5. After reviewing its overall activities and the present difficulties in acquiring the third party funding for regional projects, the CGC agreed that to facilitate the implementation of future projects, the proposals be classified as follows :
   i. Projects for third party funding, in which the need, trends and priorities of third parties and ASEAN be determined more accurately; and

   ii. Project as ASEAN networks, in which funding should be generated from ASEAN own source through network of existing institution within the respective member countries.

6. As for the role of private sector in enhancing the cooperation in crops, the CGC agreed that future ASEAN Orchid Congress and ASEAN Soil Conferences be gradually organized by the private sector while ASEAN governments assist in guidance and facilitation.

7. The CGC also proposed the possible practical cooperation with the private sector as a, result of preliminary discussion with representatives from the Working Group on Food, Agriculture and Forestry(WGFAF) of the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN-CCI) and the Horticulture Working Group of the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Food Handling, in the following field:
   i. Standardization of ASEAN Quarantine procedure for export to minimize Quarantine Barriers, that will be followed up by ASEAN PLANTI.

   ii. The study on supply and demand for tropical crops.

   Cooperation in Fisheries

8. Various programmes and activities were carried out smoothly during the period under review, including the following :
   i. Training in Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in ASEAN countries. The ASEAN project manager started his assignment in March 1990. The project will assist in the designing and implementation of monitoring, control and surveillance systems for the management of fisheries in the EEZs of the ASEAN countries. The project head- quarters is in Jakarta, Indonesia.

   ii. Regional Small-Scale Coastal Fisheries Development Project. This project is an extension of the main phase which commenced on 7 September 1987. The project phase 11 document was signed by the Secretary General of ASEAN Secretariat in December 1989, covering the period of two years with additional fund from UNDP of US$ 320,000. The main objectives of the project is to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the small scale fisheries sector. This will be achieved through manpower training at all levels (technicians, administrators, fisherman, fishfarmers, and women) to strengthen the technical and practical capabilities of the small scale fishery sector. The project head- quarters is in Manila, the Philippines.

   iii. ASEAN-EEC Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme (AADCP). The objective of the project is to promote the development of aquaculture in ASEAN through strengthening applied research, development and training services throughout the region. Donor (EEC) and host (ASEAN) funds of ECU 6.8 Million (US$ 7.5 Million) and ECU 3.6 Million (US$ 4 Million) are available for this project. The five practical components which were commenced since early 1990, coordinated by Project Coordination Office in Bangkok, Thailand and their participating twin institutes are as follows :

   COMPONENT	WORK TOPIC	TWIN ASEAN-EEC INSTITUTES
   1.	Assessment methodology and environmental impact studies for brackishwater aquaculture	Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Centre (BADC) Jepara, Indonesia and France-Aquaculture, France.
   2.	Assessment methodology and resource management for fisheries in lakes and reservoirs	Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute (FFRI) Melaka, Malaysia and Department Department of Fish Culture and Fisheries, Waginingen Agriculture University, Netherlands.
   3.	Technology verification, improvement of training ability, and training in	National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Research Centre (NFFTRC), brackishwater and Munoz and National Brackishwater freshwater Aquaculture Technology Research Centre (NBATRC), Pagiblao, Philippines and France-Aqua- culture, in conjunction with IFREMER, France and lttica Valdagri, Italy.
   4.	Fish and shrimp nutrition and the development of feeds, with special emphasis on the small farmers	Marine Aquaculture Section Primary Production Department, Changi Point, Singapore and IFREMER, France.
   5.	Fish and crustacean genetics, with special emphasis on gene emphasis on gene manipulation and population genetics	National Aquaculture Genetics Institute (NAGI) Bangkok, Thailand, and Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, United Kingdom.

9. The private sector participation in fisheries cooperation in ASEAN was also encouraging. During the Tenth Meeting of the ASEAN-COFAF Coordinating Group on Fisheries, in Kuala Lumpur, 25-27 July 1989, the representatives of the ASEAN Fisheries Consultative Body (AFCB) informed that the private sector forum decided to change its name into ASEAN Fisheries Federation (AFF). The first and second Council Meetings of the AFF ware held in Bangkok from 9-11 October 1989 and in Jakarta in 1990 respectively. The Council agreed to carry out, among others, the following activities :
   i. to set up a working group to consider the establishment of an ASEAN Fisheries Corporation.

   ii. to explore means of improving and transfering technology in the processing industry, to encourage modernisation of the fishery industry and to promote value added processing.

   Cooperation in Livestock

10. During the period under review, the ASEAN Poultry Disease Research and Training Centre (APDRTC) was continuously making satisfactory progress. The Coordinating Group on Livestock (CGL) in its 12th Meeting, held in Bangkok, Thailand, 27-28 July 1989 adopted the ammended proposal for an extention of the duration of Technical Cooperation on APDRTC beyond 1991. This proposal was approved by COFAF, at its Nineteenth Meeting on 22-25 August 1989, and submitted for approval of the ASEAN Standing Committee so that it could be tabled at the 12th Meeting of the ASEAN-Japan Forum. In order to better complement the existing facilities of APDRTC, CGL also agreed that Japan be requested to favourably consider the project proposal on "Upgrading of National Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratories in ASEAN Countries".

11. The 13th Meeting of the ASEAN Animal Protection Programme, held in Bangkok, Thailand on 26-27 July 1989, agreed among others to enhance the implementation of ASEAN Declaration of Specific Animal Disease Free Zone. Within this context, an ASEAN Study Team coordinated by Singapore visited Indonesia between 10-24 June 1990, to evaluate Indonesia's application to declare the whole country as a FMD Free Zone.

12. Other application that will be considered at the 13th Meeting of the CGL, are as follows :
    i. the application from the Philippines to declare the island provinces of Batanes, Bohol, Siquijor, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi as FMD Free Zone; and

    ii. the application from Thailand to declare the Eastern and Southern Regions of Thailand as FMD Free Zone.

    Cooperation in Forestry

13. In August 1989 the ASEAN-COFAF Coordinating Group on Forestry (CGFO) held a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The main agenda was to discuss matters related to Anti- Tropical Timber Campaign being waged by NGOs from certain industrialised nations. This Meeting laid down an ASEAN Plan of Action to counter the Anti- Tropical Timber Campaign.

14. ASEAN Institute of Forestry Management (AIFM) and ASEAN Timber Technology Centre (ATTC) were given the task to coordinate the activities to counter the Anti-Tropical Timber Campaign from scientific and forestry management points of view, while Indonesia was assigned to lead the campaign and despatch an ASEAN Ministerial delegation to the major consuming areas in 1990. Subsequent to this, an ASEAN Seminar on the Management of Tropical Forest for Sustainable Development was organized in Jakarta, on 24-25 January 1990. This Seminar was attended by international experts on tropical forest as well as experts on global environment. The discussion among others reiterated that environmental de- gradation caused by tropical forest erosion was far less compared to those caused by industrial pollution. However, it was admitted that proper management of tropical forest in ASEAN countries should be continously promoted.

15. Other activities in the year under review also progressed well. The ASEAN-US Watershed Project ended in December 1989. The Project Steering Committee recommended that this activity be continued under ASEAN's own support.

16. The ASEAN-Canada Forest Tree Seed Centre entered its second phase which will assist in the implementation and operation of a Research and Development Programme. Further contribution of C$ 8.79 million has been agreed by CIDA.

17. On the ASEAN Institute of Forest Management (AIFM), Canada has prepared a management plan for phase 11 of the project which will be discussed at the next meeting of the Project Steering Committee in Kuching, Malaysia on 26-28 July 1990.

18. The ASEAN Timber Technology Centre in Kuala Lumpur completed a resource evaluation and utilization of logging waste in South East Asia, based on three case studies in October 1989. This Centre performed its activities according to the Financing Agreement with EC. It is now seeking ways and means to be able to contribute significantly from its own resources to project costs beginning 1990.

    Cooperation in Food Handling

19. The year under review was marked by completion stage of various cooperation in food handling activities. Under the ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Programme, Phase I of the food handling project have successfully resulted in the final reports on Grain Projects, Horticulture Projects, Fish Projects and Livestock Projects.

20. The 26th Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Food Handling (SCFOH), held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 21-24 November 1989 agreed to continue Phase II of the food handling project which was renamed ASEAN-Australia Post Harvest Systems Improvement Project (AAPSIP). A Pre Feasibility Study had been conducted by AIDAB's team in March 1990 to develop a five year programme that would contribute towards further improvement of post harvest technology and food safety within the region.

21. Under the ASEAN-EEC regional collaborative programme on grains post harvest technology, research components on drying, milling and bulk handling and storage were also completed successfully.

22. Various training components were also completed, covering the following fields :
    i. Strengthening of national training centres for grain post harvest technology;

    ii. Regional training course on grain post harvest technology;

    iii. National short courses on grain post harvest technology in Thailand; and

    iv. University training on grain post harvest technology in Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.

    ASEAN Food Security Reserve (AFSR)

23. The food situation in the ASEAN region in the year under review was generally satisfactory due to the sustained efforts by member countries to increase their food production especially rice. Most member countries have gained a favourable increase in their food production and/or food reserve. As a result, release of supply from the ASEAN Emergency Rice Reserve has never been necessary since its inception in 1981.

24. The 10th Meeting of the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board, held in Malacca, Malaysia, 6-7 December 1989 agreed to continue AFSR study project in order to determine the most optimal level of the ASEAN Emergency Rice Reserve and to develop an effective regional early warning system on food security, to enable the formulation of policies and programmes for an effective and manageable ASEAN food security reserve system. The project shall subject to the availability of fund be implemented by the ASEAN Agricultural Development Planning Centre (ASEAN ADPC) located in Bangkok, Thailand in close collaboration with the Secretariat of AFSR Board and concerned agencies of all ASEAN member countries.

25. The ASEAN Grain Post-Harvest Programme (AGPP) under the supervision of AFSR Board has already been in operation for two years. From 15 July 1989 to 14 July 1990, the AGPP has implemented the following Regional activities to meet the current needs of the ASEAN grain postharvest workers : (1) Training Course on Mycotoxin Prevention and Control; (2) Workshop on Grain Post harvest Research Project Management; (3) Workshop on Priorities for Action in Grain Postharvest Research and Development in the ASEAN Region; and (4) Workshop on Current Trends in Integrated Pest Management in Grain Storage. To provide a venue for information exchange among grain post-harvest workers of varied interest, the AGPP held its yearly activity of Technical Seminar Presentation where twenty-seven papers and several posters were presented with about 100 delegates worldwide attended.

26. Included in the AGPP's workplan is supporting country projects in each ASEAN country which are being implemented by the respective ASEAN national agencies. AGPP had also circulated the ASEAN Postharvest Quarterly newsletter for July, October 1989 and January and April 1990 and the 10th ASEAN Technical Seminar Proceedings.

    Sharing of Training and Extension Resources

27. The main purpose of ASEAN cooperation in sharing of Training and Extension Resources is to help promote socioeconomic growth with equity, by enhancing the effectiveness of agricultural and rural development programmes of ASEAN members, through inter country cooperation in sharing and strengthening of development support communication (DSC) resources.

28. The Thirteenth Meeting of the Council of ASEAN Directors of Extension (CADEX) held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 8-10 August 1989 agreed to further strengthen the national Development Support Communication (DSC) capabilities of respective ASEAN member countries and endorsed the proposal for the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for DSC to be located in Serdang, Malaysia, utilising the facilities of the Centre for Extension and continuing education at University Pertanian Malaysia and the Agriculture Extension Training Institute (AETI) of the Department of Agriculture.

29. CADEX also noted that the project of ASEAN- UNDP sharing and strengthening of Development Support Communication resources in ASEAN had been progressing satisfactory and would achieve its objective within its two year implementation period. In order to sustain and capitalise on the momentum gained thus far, CADEX agreed to submit a proposal on Phase II of the aforesaid project, which focuses on the institutionalisation of a self sustaining ASEAN DSC Network involving extension organizations and universities and the strengthening of the DSC capabilities in the agricultural extension system of member countries.

30. The Phase I of this project ended on 30 April 1990, and the Phase II is expected to be covered by Fifth Cycle of UNDP assistance programme which will start in January 1992.

31. Other important development during the year under review was the recommendation of the workshop on Agricultural Cooperative, which was held on 18-21 July 1989, particularly the proposal on the setting up of the ASEAN Centre for the Development of Agricultural Cooperative (ACEDAC). While extension provides the mechanism for the, transfer of technology to farmers, the cooperative would provide the organizational structure for cornmersialicing the rural farm sector. The 11th Meeting of AMAF agreed that Indonesia would host the Centre.

    ASEAN Agricultural Development Planning Centre (ADPC)

32. In the year under review the ASEAN ADPC was continuously making satisfactory progress in conducting the training programmes and policy analysis studies. More than 30 participants attended the short term (Micro Group) training programme related to agricultural development planning and about 27 participants attended the long term course (Technical Group) leading to MS Degree in Agricultural Economics. In policy analysis studies, the Centre conducted 2 workshops on important topics, namely : rural development and utilization of national forests; and produced workshop reports and country policy papers on these topics.

33. In cooperation with UNDP/FAO, the Centre also completed the activities under the Assistance on Agricultural Project Formulation, Monitoring and Evaluation in the ASEAN (APFME), the main activities of which consist of :
    i. comparative advantage study on selected feedcrop and livestock production system in the agricultural producing ASEAN countries;

    ii. training of trainers in agricultural investment project planning;

    iii. fellowship training on agricultural project formulation, monitoring and evaluation for two sessions and 10 participants from COFAF . subsidiary bodies; and

    iv. updating of the Inventory of ASEAN-COFAF projects and actions.

34. The Eleventh Meeting of the Board of Planners of the ASEAN Agricultural Development Planning Centre, held in Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 August 1989, agreed among others to support Phase II of the APFME project for submission to UNDP. Due to financial constraint on the part of UNDP, Phase II could only be considered under the Fifth Programme Cycle funding which will be started in January 1992.

35. The implementation of the FAO assisted project on "Training in Computer Programming for project Analysis (DASI), will soon be started after the signing of the TCP agreement between FAO and Thailand on behalf of ASEAN.

36. On the issue of possible financial problem faced by ADPC after the termination of phase II (1987/88 - 1991/92) assistance from USAID, the Board of Planners agreed that several sources of funding be explored in order to avoid total dependence on a single donor institution, through securing possible funding by project component basis, as well as including the support from the private sector.