ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry went through a process of adjustment last year as a result of the restructuring of the economic cooperation mechanism under SEOM.

Following the 25th Meeting of the AEM, the 15th ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF), held at Bandar Seri Begawan on 28- 30 October 1993, deliberated on the AEM guidelines for establishing future working groups under SEOM.

The Ministers agreed that all future cooperation activities in the food and agriculture sectors should be based on the priority areas embodied in the Ministerial Understanding (MU) which they had adopted during the Meeting. These priority areas would provide the basis for the Secretary- General of ASEAN to establish ad hoc working groups which would provide the means for continuing cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry.

Under the MU, the following priority areas have been identified, namely :

1. strengthening food security in the region;
   
   
2. facilitation and promotion of intra and extra ASEAN trade in agriculture fishery and forestry product;
   
   
3. technology generation and transfer to increase productivity and develop agribusiness and silvobusiness;
   
   
4. agricultural rural community and human resource development;
   
   
5. private sector involvement and investment;
   
   
6. management and conservation of natural resources for sustainable development; and
   
   
7. strengthening ASEAN cooperation and Joint approaches in addressing international and regional issues.

As stipulated in the MU, ASEAN Member Countries would develop, for each area, an action programme of cooperative and collective efforts in policy coordination, research, technology transfer, production, marketing and investment promotion. The action programme shall have activities focusing on the promotion of information exchange, enhancement of human resource development, strengthening of institutional capacities, promotion of ASEAN common stand. and collective efforts, and enhancement of economic inter-linkages and complementarity in the region.

In line with the directive of the Fourth ASEAN Summit in 1992 for ASEAN to take Joint efforts to strengthen trade promotion and negotiations on agricultural products, the 15th AMAF requested SOM-AMAF and the ASEAN Secretariat to prepare the Joint ASEAN Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion Scheme. This Scheme, which would be driven by the private sector, has been designed to jointly promote ASEAN agriculture and forest products, strengthen ASEAN's bargaining position in the international markets, expand ASEAN exports through product diversification, and upgrade the quality and standards of ASEAN agriculture and forest products. A Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN Cooperation and Joint Approaches in Agriculture and Forest

Products Promotion had bee drafted and reviewed by Third Ad-Hoc Working Group Meeting on Joint ASEAN Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion Centre held from 29 June to 1 July 1994 at Jakarta, and would be circulated to Member Countries for comment and subsequent endorsement by the 16th AMAF Meeting in August 1994.

On food security, the Ministers approved the amendments to the Agreement on ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board taking into consideration the admission of Brunei Darussalam into ASEAN and the restructuring of ASEAN institutions. Accordingly, the Ministers agreed to adjust the initial ASEAN Emergency Rice Reserve (AERR) to 53,000 metric tonnes. The Ministers also directed SOM-AMAF and the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB) to periodically work out acceptable criteria for determining the size of AERR and the contribution of each Member Country to meet future requirements.

With the assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), AFSRB is currently conducting a study to identify criteria for determining the optimum size of AERR. The study will also consider other food items that could be included in the Food Security Reserve. The results of the study will be tabled for consideration of the 16th AMAF Meeting scheduled in August 1994.

Notwithstanding the MU signed by the Ministers during the 15th AMAF, the Special Meeting of SOM-AMAF held in Bandar Seri Begawan in April 1994 continued its discussion on the problems encountered by Member Countries in the implementation of the ASEAN cooperation programmes in food, agriculture and forestry under the restructured set-up for ASEAN economic cooperation. These problems included :

1. the difficulty of planning, budgeting, and obtaining government clearance for participation in meetings of ad hoc working groups;
   
   
2. the need to provide further guidance on the operationalization of the networking mechanism; and
   
   
3. the need for guidance on the manner by which SOM-AMAF could be used as an umbrella for special meetings.

The 15th SOM-AMAF Meeting held in Bandar Seri Begawan on 28-30 April 1994 developed the Medium Term Programme of Action for ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry and the two-year work plan. The Meeting requested the ASEAN Secretariat to establish ad hoc working groups to prioritize sectoral programme areas and to develop a strategic work plan for consideration of the 16th Meeting of AMAF at Langkawi in August 1994.

With regard to ASEAN cooperation projects with Dialogue Partners, the 15th Meeting of AMAF adopted a common understanding that the establishment of ASEAN institutions was to be encouraged. The initial phase of operations would be funded through the ASEAN machinery. There- after, the institutions should be self-sustaining and should function as national institutions while re- taining their regional character. In this respect, the Ministers expressed appreciation to Thailand and Malaysia for maintaining the ASEAN Agricultural Development Planning Centre (ADPC) and the ASEAN Plant Quarantine and Training Institute (ASEAN PLANTI), respectively, following the termination of funding from the relevant Dialogue Partners.

All together, there were nine on-going ASEAN cooperation projects in food, agriculture and forestry supported by Dialogue Partners. Only one new project was approved during the period under review. If found feasible, the new project would be implemented during the third quarter of 1994. The projects supported by Dialogue Partners are as follows:

1. ASEAN-Canada Grains Postharvest Programme (completed - 31 December 1993)
   
   
2. ASEAN-Australia Postharvest System Improvement Programme (AAPSIP) (completed-June 1994)
   
   
3. Preparing Rural Youth for a Better Future in Agriculture - (Japan)
   
   
4. ASEAN Forest Seed Center Phase 11 (Canada)
   
   
5. ASEAN Institute of Forest Management (AIFM) Phase 11 - (Canada)
   
   
6. ASEAN Timber Technology Center (ATTC) Phase I - (EC)
   
   
7. ASEAN Poultry Research and Training Center (APRTC) - (Japan)
   
   
8. ASEAN-Canada Fisheries Postharvest Technology Project Phase II - (Canada)
   
   
9. ASEAN Aquaculture Development and Coordinating Programme (AADCP) - (EC)
   
   
10. Development of Food Safety and Quality Assurance System for Marketing and Distribution of Fresh and Semi-Processed Horticulture Products in ASEAN - AAECP Phase III (Australia)

The ASEAN Rural Youth Development Center (ARYDEC) in Bangkok, the implementing agency for the Rural Youth Project, has prepared a project proposal entitled Enhancement and Development of ASEAN Youth Entrepreneurial Capacities in Agribusiness. The proposed project would be the extension of the current project which is being funded by Japan-ASEAN Exchange Programme (JAEP) and jointly implemented by ASEAN- COSD Sub-Committee on Youth (ASY), coordinated by the ASEAN Secretariat. As the project would essentially be agriculture oriented, it would be necessary for the relevant national agriculture agencies of Member Countries to continue their involvement in the implementation of the project.

Phase II of the ASEAN Institute of Forest Management had experienced a slight delay in the implementation of its work programme due to procedural problems on the recruitment of project personnel. The project also incurred increased cost of operations,

The ASEAN Timber Technology Center (ATTC), which was established in 1987, offers great potential for becoming a self-sustaining ASEAN center of excellence if it receives continuing support until 1997. The Center has provided an effective link between wood-based industries and consumers, particularly those outside ASEAN. It has played an important role in improving the quality of ASEAN wood products for intra and extra ASEAN markets. The ATTC has an Area Representative Office in all ASEAN capitals (except Bandar Seri Begawan) to effectively service the ASEAN wood based industries. The Center has actively carried out all training, information dissemination and trade promotion activities as outlined in its approved work programme. Funding for ATTC Phase II is currently being considered by the EC, subject to the willingness of the European Timber Industry (ETI) to collaborate with the Center. The EC is presently working closely with the ETI to identify areas for collaboration with ATTC.

The ASEAN Aquaculture Development Coordination Programme (AADCP) will be terminated at the end of December 1994. The Project Coordinating Office, will, however, be continued up to March 1995 to finalize administrative and financial matters. The centers of excellence involved in the AADCP will continue with their aquaculture development activities and provide the leadership role in ASEAN cooperation in fisheries following the termination of the programme. The centers which are originally national institutions will continue to be funded by the respective member governments.

The ASEAN Food Handling Bureau (AFHB), which was established as the administrative arm of the dissolved Sub-Committee on Food Handling of COFAF, has been given funding assistance from Australia to continue servicing the food industry of ASEAN beyond June 1994. The AFHB has been able to successfully establish itself as the first self-sustaining ASEAN institution, The proposal for the establishment of a Board for the AFHB will be considered by the 16th AMAF Meeting in August 1994.

To promote self-reliance in the implementation of A S E A N programmes in food, agriculture and forestry, the 15th AMAF Meeting decided that all sectoral work plans developed for 1995 and 1996 would be on networking basis and would adopt the principles of Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries (TCDC). The two-year work plan of the respective sectors contains activities of mutual interest to Member Countries and has been provided with national budget support for in-country activities. A Directory of Focal Points for ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry has been prepared and circulated to Member Countries to facilitate the operationalization of the ASEAN programmes of action for each of the sectors.

Member Countries had also agreed to make full use of bilateral assistance in enhancing the regional cooperation programmes. Under this arrangement, a Member Country, which receives bilateral assistance on a project of common interest to other Member Countries, would play the leading role in the project implementation at the regional level.

Cooperation activities in livestock have progressed satisfactorily. In the area of technical cooperation, programmes for the establishment of foot-and-mouth disease free zone and the standardization of animal vaccines have been implemented. The feasibility study on the establishment of animal production and health information system has started and will be available for consideration by Member Countries in November 1994. There is also a project for the accreditation of ASEAN livestock centers of excellence as well as livestock experts. Member Countries continue to offer training in this sector on the basis of TCDC arrangements.

ASEAN cooperation in fisheries has maintained its momentum throughout the year. Activities have been carried out through inter-governmental agency collaboration and networking. The First ASEAN Conference on Fisheries Development and Management would be held in July 1994, jointly organized by Thailand and the ASEAN Secretariat with the financial support of Thailand and Canada. Other activities in the sector include

1. Study of environmental impact in the use of local drift nets in collaboration with SEAFDEC (Lead-Country: Thailand).
   
2. Evaluation of landed catch and effort data on tuna fisheries resources management (Lead Country: Philippines)
   
3. Preparation of a position paper on antibiotic residue and standardization of quality control and inspection of fish and fishery products (Lead- Country : Thailand)
   
4. Preparation of a position paper on issues of salmonella in prawns and the EC directives regarding the handling and importation offish and fishery products ( Lead-Country: Philippines).

Cooperation in forestry has been effected principally through three ongoing projects funded by Dialogue Partners, namely : the ASEAN. Forest Tree Seed Center, the ASEAN Institute of Forest Management (AIFM) and the ASEAN Timber Technology Center (ATTC). In addition, Member Countries have continued to coordinate their positions in international fora/negotiations concerning forestry and forest products, particularly with regard to the implementation of UNCED decisions relating to forestry and discriminatory certification and labeling of tropical timber.

In the area of training and extension, Member Countries have continued with the exchange programme of study visits of farmers and extension agents as well as the organization of the ASEAN Farmers' Week. The target groups for the cooperation programme are youths and women. The present programme is being focussed on entrepreneurial development in agribusiness.

With regard to the cooperation in the development of agricultural cooperatives, Member Countries have carried out programmes of study and exchange visits for executives of ASEAN cooperatives. In order to enhance cooperation in agricultural cooperatives, Member Countries are currently involved in conducting comparative studies on successful agribusiness activities. The findings from the studies will be presented to the Third ASEAN Agricultural Cooperative Workshop scheduled to be held back-to-back with the Third Board Meeting of ASEAN Center for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives (ACEDAC) in December 1994. In addition to these activities, ACEDAC is also compiling a Directory of Agricultural Cooperatives. The publication containing a detailed inventory of agricultural cooperatives particularly with regard to business activities, training programmes and facilities, and current cooperative legislation’s in Member Countries useful in enhancing ASEAN cooperation in this sector.