46th Meeting of AMAF: The meetings hosted by Myanmar through online system

The 46th meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry and related meetings hosted by Myanmar are being held online system from 22nd to 25th October.

On October 24, at the 46th meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry, the Chairmanship of 45th meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry H.E Hon. Datuk Seri Haji Mohamad Bin Sabu Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia and the Union Minister for Agriculture, livestock and Irrigation U Min Naung delivered the opening remarks.

Next, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia handed over the duties of Chairmanship of the 46th meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry and its related meetings.

The Ministers and Deputy Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry from ASEAN member countries and Timor-Leste, ASEAN Deputy Secretary General, Senior officials, representatives and officials from ASEAN Secretariat attended the first day of the meeting.

During the meeting, discussions were held regarding the progress and current status of key initiatives implemented in the ASEAN food, agriculture, and forestry sectors for the 2023-2024 period. Topics included long-term sustainable agricultural programs, ASEAN guidelines for reducing the practice of burning crop residues, efforts to minimize the use of hazardous agricultural chemicals, nature-based solutions to reduce environmental impacts, initiatives to promote a blue maritime economic system, the use of digital technology, and government-private sector collaborations.

Next, the Ministers conducted the reviewing, giving approval and guidelines.

During the period of meetings hosting by Myanmar "The project for producing biochar by studying and analyzing data on crop residues to reduce carbon emissions in ASEAN countries" was recommended, the development partners of ERIAI, CropLife Asia, US-ASEAN Business Council, EU-ASEAN Business Council also took part in the discussion and the Joint-Statement of the 46th meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry was approved.

Prior to the Ministers’ meeting, the preparation meetings were chaired by High-ranking official of Myanmar to ASEAN Director General of the Planning Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Kyaw Swe Lin. The ASEAN+3 meetings and ASEAN+India meeting will take place on 25th October, it’s learnt.