Ministerial Meetings: ASEAN Meetings on Agriculture and Forestry

The 44th Meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF), the 22nd ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry and the 7th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry hosted by the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was held virtually on Wednesday.

Union Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Tin Htut Oo and Myanmar delegation participated in the meetings. At the 44th meeting of AMAF, the outcome guidelines from the ASEAN submit and implementation of policies and frameworks in regard with food, agriculture and forestry sectors in ASEAN region, the food, crop, fishery sectors, research and development sector for ASEAN agricultural sector development including in the report of the high-ranking officials on the 44thAMAF and the main work programs to be implemented in 2023 were approved.

At the 44th Meeting of AMAF, the Union Minister U Tin Htut Oo said that Myanmar's economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for 23.7% of the country's GDP and 35% of the income from foreign exports and 70% of the population in rural areas are engaged in agricultural activities.

The State Administration Council is adopting policy to increase the agriculture and livestock productivity by using modern technologies for the development of Myanmar's economy. Although the agricultural sector is facing various challenges, there was a slight damage in production.

In doing so, 1.9 million tons of rice, 1.87 million tons of beans and pulses, 2.6 million tons of corn, 0.3 million tons of sesame and 0.6 million tons of marine products could be exported. Due to the surplus production of food, the sufficiency of food and nutrition could be fulfilled in the region.

For regional food and nutrition sufficiency and food safety, ASEAN member states need to cooperate in trade and transportation concerned with the food chain. Likewise, the 22nd ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry was held in the afternoon and Myanmar delegation took part in the discussion.

The meeting focused on the guidelines on the agricultural sector adopted by ASEAN+3 Summit, progress of food, agriculture and forestry sector cooperation among the SEAN+3, implementation of the ASEAN+3 Rice Reserve Agreement and the ASEAN Food Security Information System and future work programs.

It was followed by the 7th ASEAN- India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry and cooperation for agriculture and forestry sectors and future programs were discussed. The statement of the 7th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry was also approved.