Virtual 42th Meeing of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF 42)

On October 21, 2020, the 42th Meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF 42) took place virtual, discussing the goal of developing sustainable agriculture and forestry in the context of Covid-19. Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh representing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam attended AMAF 42 from Hanoi station. On the same day of October 21, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh also participated in the ASEAN Agriculture and Forestry Ministers Meeting with China, Japan and Korea (AMAF + 3) and India (AIMMAF).

At the AMAF 42, representatives of ASEAN countries discussed how to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak to ensure food security, food safety and nutrition. Adoption of the ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework (AIFS) and the Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security (SPA-FS) for the period 2021-2025 to further ensure long-term food security and nutrition,  and improve the livelihoods of farmers in the ASEAN region.

Speaking at the Meeting, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh said that, as soon as the Covid-19 happened, Vietnam had entered a drastic and synchronized fight to repel and control the pandemic. Up to now, socio-economic activities are being restored; are highly appreciated by the domestic and international community. In particular, strengthening sustainable agricultural, forestry and fishery development is one of the important goals of the Government of Vietnam to ensure solid national food security, while contributing to solving food security issues globally.

According to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, in order to achieve sustainable development, the agricultural sector set sustainable development priorities under three economic, social and environmental pillars, specifically: (i) Build agriculture and forestry basing on modern technology 4.0, bringing high added value and efficiency; (ii) Develop new rural, improve income and living conditions of rural population; (iii) Develop infrastructure, improve capacity for natural disaster prevention, mitigation and recovery, and use natural resources and protect the environment in a sustainable manner.

In the context that the Covid-19 pandemic may last, the world economy still had many uncertainties and unpredictable factors, ASEAN needed solutions to ensure access to finance, technology and input materials for agricultural, forestry and fishery production; ensuring logistics activities, linking regional and international, food and agro-forestry product transportation, all would be carried out continuously and smoothly.

Therefore, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh said that Vietnam proposed some specific actions: Firstly, to further tighten cooperation within ASEAN in order to strengthen connectivity of food supply chains, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; assist smallholder farmers, small, medium and micro enterprises to overcome the negative impacts of the Covid-19. Secondly, to promote the application of digital technology in commerce; minimize administrative procedures, shorten time for risk assessment to open markets; strengthen cooperation in the equivalence accreditation of food safety control system to promote trade exchange of agricultural, forestry and fishery products internally. Thirdly, to improve the operational capacity and efficiency of the agricultural, forestry and fishery supply chains to avoid trade disruption, lack of transparency and reduce food and food loss / waste. Fourthly, it was proposed to introduce credit packages with preferential interest rates from regional and international banks, monetary funds for households, small and micro enterprises.

At the AMAF + 3 meeting, the representatives of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry and plus three countries China, Japan and Korea also expressed concern about its unprecedented impacts on the lives of people and the economy, including regional food supply chain disruptions.

However, the delegates remained committed to ensuring sustainable food sources and an unobstructed food flow in the region. At the AIMMAF meeting between ASEAN Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and India, the above issues were raised and agreed by the delegates.