Myanmar delegation joins 44th AMAF, 22nd AMAF PLUS Three, 7th AIMMAF online

Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Tin Htut Oo joined the 44th Meeting of the 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 (AIMMAF) hosted by the Government of the Lao PDR via videoconferencing yesterday.
During the 44th AMAF, the ministers focused on instructions resulting from ASEAN Summits, drafting of the policy framework of food, agriculture and forest sector in ASEAN regions, food, crop, fisheries, forestry, research and development sectors and priorities in 2023 to ensure the ASEAN farming sector development mentioned in reports of superior officials to the 44th AMAF.
Then, the Union minister said Myanmar’s economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for 23.7 per cent of the country’s total domestic production, earns 35 per cent of the income from foreign exports and 70 per cent of the population in rural areas is engaged in agricultural activities.
Myanmar exported 1.9 million tonnes of rice, 1.87 million tonnes of beans and pulses, 2.6 million tonnes of corn, 0.3 million tonnes of sesame and 0.6 million tonnes of marine products. Such success is gained through the balanced cooperation of government and private and also for the support of the government.
During the 22nd ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry, the ASEAN ministers exchanged views on instructions for the agricultural sector through ASEAN Plus Three Summit, cooperation work in food security, agriculture and forest sectors between ASEAN Plus Three countries, agreement on ASEAN Plus Three reserve rice, ASEAN food security information system and ongoing work plans, and approved the joint statement.
Meanwhile, the Myanmar delegation expressed thanks to China, Japan and Republic of Korea for their technical assistance to develop the ASEAN farming sector, and welcomed the offer of Korea to keep 600 tonnes of rice donated by Korea as part of the 2022 ASEAN+3 Emergency Rice Reserve Tier 3 in Myanmar and thanked the Korean Government.
At the 7th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AIMMAF), the ministers discussed the outcomes of the ASEAN-India Summit, Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ Meeting for the agricultural sector and further work plans based on implementation works via the cooperation of ASEAN-India Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry.
Then, the Union minister urged the superior officials and working groups to make more efforts than before in emerging agriculture that is sustainable and in harmony with nature and able to withstand climate changes, and for developing sustainable soil. He also said that the participation of Indian experts in the agricultural sector of ASEAN and India will be more effective.
Afterwards, the Ministers confirmed the statement of the 7th AIMMAF and concluded the meeting. —MNA