Post by : Shakul

Pongthai Taiyothin, Inspector-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, participated in the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry to prepare for the upcoming Special ASEAN Ministers Meeting. The meeting focused on addressing pressing challenges affecting food security across the region.

The discussions highlighted the significant impact of ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on agricultural systems. Rising energy prices, disruptions in fertilizer supply chains, and increased logistics costs are affecting agricultural production and food supply stability in many ASEAN countries.

Thailand emphasized that it heavily depends on imported fertilizers, meeting nearly all of its domestic demand through imports. As a result, fluctuations in global markets have led to higher production costs and limited access to essential agricultural inputs for farmers.

To address these challenges, Thailand has implemented a phased strategy to stabilize food production. Immediate measures focus on ensuring sufficient fertilizer supply and promoting efficient usage, including encouraging the use of organic fertilizers to reduce costs.

Short-term efforts include promoting biofertilizers, precision agriculture technologies, and renewable energy solutions to improve efficiency. Medium-term plans focus on research and development, soil improvement, and adopting sustainable agricultural practices under the Bio-Circular-Green model.

ASEAN member countries also exchanged information on national situations and discussed coordinated regional responses. The meeting reviewed mechanisms such as the ASEAN Emergency Food Reserve System and regional cooperation frameworks to strengthen food security.

Thailand stressed the importance of maintaining the flow of essential goods, including food and agricultural inputs, while enhancing cross-sector collaboration. The discussions aim to build a resilient regional food system capable of responding effectively to current and future challenges.

#Thailand News #Asia News #agriculture