ASEAN Urged To Strengthen Cooperation In Agriculture And Forestry

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- ASEAN Member States (AMS) have been urged to intensify collaboration under ASEAN platforms to address challenges and seize opportunities in the agriculture and forestry sectors, particularly in capacity building to advance the sectors.

The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM), in a statement today, said the matter was emphasised at the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) meeting held in Manila, the Philippines yesterday, with Malaysia’s delegation led by Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

“AMAF is a scheduled meeting that discusses emerging issues related to agriculture and forestry, particularly in strengthening the commitment of ASEAN member countries towards regional cooperation on food security, agriculture and forestry,” the statement said.

According to KPKM, the meeting also unanimously agreed to adopt the ASEAN Food, Agriculture and Forestry-Sectoral Plan (FAF-SP 2026-2030) as the primary reference document for the FAF sectors over the next five years.

AMS further endorsed two Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 commitments for the FAF sectors, namely the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on the Vision for Food, Agriculture, and Forestry Towards 2045, and the ASEAN Framework for Cooperation in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry Sector Towards 2045.

“These two documents will be tabled for adoption at the ASEAN Summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 26 to 28, 2025,” the statement said.

KPKM said that Mohamad also held bilateral meetings with the host country, the Philippines, and Japan to discuss potential areas of agricultural cooperation that could be expanded for mutual benefit.

-- BERNAMA