| THE 18TH ASEAN PLUS THREE FOOD SECURITY INFORMATION SYSTEM (AFSIS) FOCAL POINT MEETING 9 June 2020, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam The opening ceremony of The 18th ASEAN Plus Three Food Security Information System (AFSIS) Focal Point Meeting was held on 17 Syawal 1441 corresponding with 9th June 2020 via online conferencing.
The focal point meeting usually takes place annually in AFSIS Headquarter which is in Bangkok, Thailand. However, in 2020, Brunei Darussalam is given the privilege to host the 18th focal point meeting, as the first country using the ASEAN protocol's rotational basis in alphabetical order of the ASEAN countries.
However, due to the outbreak of the pandemic globally, the meeting was held virtually and attended by the other nine members of the ASEAN countries plus three, Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Singapore, Kingdom of Thailand, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, People's Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Brunei Darussalam was represented by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism as the main focal point organisation member for AFSIS.
The agenda of the meeting was to discuss the progress and development of the on-going implementations of the AFSIS projects and the relevant organisation presented progress report on the collaboration project with AFSIS as well as future collaboration between AFSIS in order to improve agricultural statistics in the region.
AFSIS Focal Point Meeting is a great platform for the experts of the agricultural field to interact and exchange their expertise of agricultural statistics among the ASEAN plus three countries.
AFSIS has carried out many activities such as the continuous development of food security information from all ASEAN countries and disseminate them via publications. The availability of these agricultural statistics prepared by AFSIS can be used by the local farmers to identify valuable and appropriate sources of agriculture commodities available among the ASEAN countries in the hope to increase the agriculture output in Brunei Darussalam. AFSIS has also initiated some projects focusing on the development of human resource with the cooperation and support of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, mainly in establishing effective agribusiness value chain management among all stakeholders in the agriculture industry.
STATEMENT OF ASEAN MINISTERS ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY IN RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK OF THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) TO ENSURE FOOD SECURITY, FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION IN ASEAN We, the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) express our deep concern over the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has affected the lives of people and economies, including food, agriculture and forestry sectors in ASEAN and globally. We emphasise the importance of the food, agriculture and forestry sector, and urge to ensure that essential, safe and nutritious produce can continue to reach ASEAN markets during the outbreak of COVID-19.
We note with concern the potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry as well as disruption to the food supply chain in the region. We note the FAO Policy Brief on COVID-19 and the risk to food supply chains: How to respond? and agree that as countries combat the COVID-19 pandemic, they must also make every effort to keep the gears of their food supply chains moving. We note the ASEAN Chairman's Statement on ASEAN Collective Response to the Outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019, which expresses the solidarity and unity of ASEAN in their efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic. We recall the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Statement on Strengthening ASEAN's Economic Resilience in Response to the Outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), which resolved to remain committed in keeping the ASEAN market open for trade and investment. We note that the COVID-19 outbreak has drawn our attention on the immediate danger of food shortage and its adverse effect on nutrition, given a sudden spike in demand and disruption in supply chains, ASEAN needs to also continue its efforts to ensure stable and sustainable food sources. We acknowledge on-going efforts by individual ASEAN Member States and ASEAN Sectoral Bodies in monitoring and mitigating the spread of the COVID-19, as well as its social and economic impact. In order to contribute to overcoming the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, and to ensure sustainable supply of sufficient, affordable, safe and nutritious foods that meet the dietary requirements of the ASEAN populations, we agree to:
a. Reaffirm our commitments in the implementation of the Statement of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry on Food Security and Nutrition to improve storage, preservation, transport and distribution technologies and infrastructure to reduce food insecurity, food nutrient loss and waste; b. Minimise disruptions in regional food supply chains by working closely together to ensure that markets are kept open and transportation of agricultural and food products are facilitated, and that quarantine or other non-tariff measures do not impede or slow down the free flow of agricultural and food products in the region;
c. Ensure that trade lines remain open, including via air, sea and land freight, to facilitate the flow of agricultural and food products, and that critical infrastructure such as our air and seaports remain open to support the viability and integrity of supply chains; d. In accordance with the rights and obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) covered agreements and the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), refrain from imposing new export control, restrictions and prohibitions, tariffs and non-tariff barriers; e. Strive to reduce excessive price volatility particularly price spikes, ensure adequate emergency food and reserves and provide timely and accurate market information through the effective implementation of the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) and ASEAN Plus Three Rice Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR); f. Continue efforts to the implementation of the ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture and Forestry to increase resilience to, and contribute to the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, natural disasters and other shocks;
g. Strengthen AMAF's joint efforts in advocating, facilitating and implementing the ASEAN Food Safety Policy (AFSP) and the ASEAN Food Safety Regulatory Framework (AFSRF) to provide direction to relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and ASEAN Member States with the goal of protecting the health of ASEAN consumers, ensuring fair practices in food trade and facilitating the free movement of safe food products in ASEAN;
h. Reaffirm support towards ensuring food safety by working together in the region, recognising the importance of risk assessment in developing evidence-based food safety measures, which are coordinated with relevant sectors; i. Work towards sustaining nutrition security with other relevant sectors to maintain access and utilisation of adequate supply of nutrients to ensure healthy living; j. Strengthen the role of the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB) to promptly provide periodic exchanges of information on national food and agricultural policies and stocking policies as well as production, consumption and storage programmes pertaining to basic food commodities among ASEAN Member States; k. Undertake a periodic evaluation of the food situation and prospects in the ASEAN region as well as worldwide, including trade, prices, quality and stocks of basic food commodities (such as rice, maize and sugar) through the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB) as focal point, as well as AFSIS and APTERR
in coordinating with relevant Working Groups (food, crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry) under SOM AMAF.
We look forward to further exchange of views and collaboration in food, agriculture and forestry development with other sectors and partners to address the adverse impacts of COVID-19. We will strive to keep ASEAN food, agriculture and forestry strong during the COVID-19 outbreak by continuously maintaining production, supporting value chains and ensuring access to workforce.
We urge ASEAN Member States to implement necessary measures, projects and programmes at the national level to meet the immediate food needs of ASEAN populations, particularly vulnerable groups in society, boost ASEAN Member States' social protection programmes and support all stakeholders, including smallholder farmers, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to increase food production and ensure food security in the region. =============== Endorsed by AMAF on 15 April 2020 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Brunei Darussalam and People's Republic of China enhance cooperation in the field of agriculture
The Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar and delegation were on a four-day working visit at the invitation of His Excellency Sun Zhengcai, the Minister of Agriculture , the People's Republic of China. Brunei Darussalam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China to further enhance cooperation in the field of agriculture.
Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources signed on behalf of Brunei Darussalam. While on behalf of the government of the People's Republic of China, His Excellency Sun Zhengcai, Agriculture Minister, inked on the agreement.
Yang Berhormat Pehin and his delegations met with Professor Yuan Longpin, dubbed as "Father of Hybrid Rice" in Hunan Province. He was a pioneer in hybrid rice research and made remarkable achievements in this area, first developing hybrid rice in the world.
The achievements of Professor Yuan Longpin greatly solved the food shortage, and provided as a solution the worldwide starvation. It is regarded as the fifth invention after China's Four Major Inventions, and is acclaimed as the Second Green Revolution. Yang Berhormat Pehin and his delegation had a fruitful discussion with Professor Yuan Longpin on Hybrid Rice Research. Yang Berhormat Pehin and delegation left Hunan Province and continued the working visit in Guangxi Autonomous Region.
To enhance cooperation in the field of agriculture research, Yang Berhormat Pehin also witnessed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony in Cooperation in Field Crop Research and Development signed between the Department of Agriculture of Brunei Darussalam and Hunan Rice Research Institute of the People's Republic of China. During their working four-day visit, the Brunei delegation visited local agricultural research intuitions, enterprises and food processing plants in China's Hunan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Yang Berhormat Pehin and his delegation also met with Bruneian Officers from the Department of Agriculture in Nannng, the capital city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The officers are currently attending the Training Course on Rice Breeding Technologies organised by Guangxi's Department of Agriculture.
Borneo Bulletin Online, May 5, 6 & 7, 2009 | 
