Expert Group Meeting on framing Guidelines on Soil and Nutrition Management in Brunei

The 1^st National Expert Group Meeting on Soil and Nutrient Management (SNM) was convened on 8^th June 2015 for 3 days at Directorate office of the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Industry and primary Resources. The Meeting provided face-to-face dialogue among the resource persons to discuss problems and recommendations, to exchange information, share experience and lessons learnt on the management of soil nutrient in promoting sustainable agriculture and food system at national level.

This effort was to provide information and inputs to the ASEAN Expert Group on SNM to develop the ASEAN Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management. The scope of the guidelines includes: General property of soils in ASEAN, Soil problems, good soil nutrient and crop management practices, fertilizer regulations and standards, soil pollution and other issues. This initiative is part of the ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (SAS) project supported by German Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ in collaboration with ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat.

During the Meeting, brief presentation about the project and ASEAN Guidelines based on outcomes from the 1^st and 2^nd Regional Meeting of ASEAN Expert Group were made by a representative from GIZ – ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS), Bangkok. Besides, presentation was also made by officers and resource persons from the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood on soils and various issues like potential acid sulfate soils, soil erosion and on-going activities on soil nutrient management in the country.

Subsequently, discussions were made on good soil management practices, constraints in soil fertility, existing
regulations, standards and market information on fertilizers. During the Meeting, progressive farmers and fertilizer dealers were also participated and exchanged their views with suggestions in formulating national soil and nutrient management plan. The project period is for four years started from 2014 and end by 2017.

The progress of the recommendations of the national expert group will be updated to regional expert group from time to time to facilitate in developing the ASEAN Guidelines. The relevant activities as per their mandate will also be implemented during the project period.

Senior and relevant officers from the department were also attended during the meeting and shared their experiences on soils from crop production perspective.

By Wannipa Soda, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems

12/06/201509/08/2017

ASEAN Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management : Scope and outline finalised

The ASEAN Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management (SNM) will not be developed as a text book but recommendations based on best practices and knowledge particularly specific to ASEAN, agreed by senior specialists from eight ASEAN Member States attending the 2nd Meeting of the ASEAN Expert Group on Soil and Nutrient Management recently held in Singapore on 28-29 April 2015.

The primary objective of this two-day consultation meeting was to share knowledge and discuss the draft ASEAN Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management.

Dr. Thomas Jaekel, a Chief Technical Advisor of ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (SAS) project highlighted the need to harmonise thinking on SNM in ASEAN and emphasised the importance of this meeting in refining the scope and contents.

He said the Guidelines should include practical advice and actions and in particular to ensure the recommendations were tangible and applicable not just for policy makers but also for farmers.

The eight senior specialists as members of the Regional Technical Expert Group on Soil and Nutrient Management were from eight ASEAN Member States: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

“Soil and nutrient management is an integrated system to manage soils, nutrients, water and crops in a sustainable manner to optimize crop production and improve soil health.” The definition for SNM was finalised at the meeting.

The meeting also refined the objectives of the ASEAN Guidelines. They are to emphasise the importance of soil and nutrient management in attaining sustainable agriculture; to provide guidance that helps decision makers to formulate policies that encourage sustainable agriculture, crop production and soil health; and to harmonise recommendations in order to improve soil and nutrient management.

The 1^st draft of ASEAN Guidelines on SNM was presented at the meeting. Discussion was conducted based on contents of the 1^st draft.

The ASEAN Guidelines on SNM will cover issues of soil in ASEAN; good soil management practices; good nutrient management practices; standards, regulations and market information of fertiliser and supplements and recommendations for soil and nutrient management.

The meeting agreed that the members of Regional Technical Expert Group on SNM are responsible for writing up the detailed contents of the five working topics based on their experience and expertise in relation to local condition.

Submission of completed set of the contents for drafting the 2^nd draft of ASEAN Guidelines on SNM is expected by the end of September 2015.

The ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (SAS) project aimed at developing policies and strategies for soil and nutrient management in a form of a guidance document. A Regional Technical Expert Group on Soil and Nutrient Management has been established and meets regularly to develop the guidelines.

By Wannipa Soda and Rojana Manowalailao, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems

28/04/201510/08/2017

Progress updates on development of the ASEAN’s Soil and Nutrient Management Guidelines

National-soil-and-nutrient-management-experts-met-at-the-consultation-meeting-in-Vietnam

Scope of contents of the Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management was finalized at the 2^nd regional meeting of the ASEAN Expert Group on Soil and Nutrient Management (SNM) in Singapore on 28-29 April 2015. The Meeting agreed to shape up the SNM Guidelines content to include: Chapter I: Properties and issues of soils in ASEAN Member States; Chapter II: Good soil management practices; Chapter III: Good nutrient management practices; Chapter IV: Standards, regulations and market information of fertilizer and supplements; and Chapter V: Recommendations on Soil and Nutrient Management.

Brunei News features the national consultation meeting conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood on 8 – 10 May 2015

Following the Singapore Meeting, the 2^nd national consultation meetings in different ASEAN Member States (AMS) have been expected to be conducted. The consultation meeting aims at sharing and discussion of the key outcomes of the regional meeting. This includes planning of relevant activities and identify respective responsible for preparation of inputs contribute to writing up contents of the ASEAN SNM Guidelines. In Brunei Darussalam the national consultation meeting was conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood on 8 – 10 May 2015. In Vietnam, the consultation meeting was held by the Department of Crop Production (DCP) on 28 – 29 June 2015.

To steer the process on preparation of inputs, a monitoring process has been conducting through a status report form. Presently, only Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam provide feedback in this regard. Base on the status reports obtained fromAMS, Malaysia is the most progressive one followed by Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar.

AMS are being expected to submit completed draft of country inputs on subject matter by the end of October for consolidation. The contents received from the AMS will be reviewed by experts at the 3^rd Meeting of ASEAN Expert Group on Soil and Nutrient Management to be held in November 2015 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

By Wannipa Soda, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems

Group photo of soil and nutrient management experts in Brunei Darussalam

12/03/201509/08/2017

Malaysia Expert Group Meeting on developing ASEAN Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management

The 1st National Expert Group Meeting on Soil and Nutrient Management that organized by Soil Resource Management and Conservation Division, Department of Agriculture was held in Malaysia on 12 March 2015 at Department of Agriculture, Putrajaya. National Members Expert from Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Malaysian Rubber Board and ESPEK Research and Advisory Services Sdn. Bhd. were invited to discuss the draft ASEAN Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management; roles of National Expert Group in developing guidelines and exchange information.

The meeting begun with a briefing by Ms. Wannipa Soda, representative from GIZ’s ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS) on scopes of the Soil and Nutrient Management which was finalized at the 2^nd Regional Meeting of the ASEAN Expert Group in Singapore on 28-29 April 2015. The second presentation was delivered by Mr. Borhan Jantan, expert from Department of Agriculture of Malaysia. He described the outline of ASEAN Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management towards Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. National Members Expert later discussed the contents include:

Chapter 1: Properties and issues of soil in ASEAN

Chapter 2: Good soil management practices

Chapter 3: Good nutrient management practices

Chapter 4: Standard, regulations and market information of fertilizer and
supplements

Chapter 5: Recommendations for soil and nutrient management

Based on the differences among the ASEAN Member States, regional mechanism is required for cooperation and coordinating on soil and nutrient management at regional level. In dealing with the issues at regional level, there are needs for ASEAN to provide policy recommendations that support the implementation of effective and efficient approaches in managing soil and nutrient, along with other complementary measures in order to maintain and increase crop productivity, whilst securing productive capacity of soils. This underlines the need for good cooperation among AMS to establish a regional working group to develop a set of recommendation on soil and nutrient management for the region. In response to the needs, ASEAN SAS has an initiative entitled “Development of Regional Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management” in 2014.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of soil and nutrient management through diverse farming approaches to promote the sustainable agriculture. Relevant concern and issues had also been discussed and taken into consideration on Soil Quality Standard and how to manage the good soil to sustained the soil including mangrove area.

The recommendations and relevant activities of the National Expert Group will be updated to Regional Expert Group for development of ASEAN Soil and Nutrient Management Guidelines.

Supported by ASEAN SAS, it is expected that ASEAN Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management will provide regionally coordinated guidance to facilitate decision makers in formulation of policy recommendations on soil and nutrient management that will promote sustainable agrifood systems in the region.

15/12/201409/08/2017

The 5th Project Partner Meeting and related Meetings in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from 2-4 December 2014

Four Regional Meetings to Agree Step Forward in Addressing Food Security

Authors:
Pouchamarn Wongsanga
Duangruetai Surasakjinda

During 2-4 December 2014, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), GIZ together with the Department of Agriculture of Myanmar’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation organized the 5^th Project Partner Meeting (PPM) of the “ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (SAS)”, The 6^th Meeting of the ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation, The 1^st Meeting of the ASEAN Soil and Nutrient Management Expert Group, and The Dialogue on ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework at in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

Attended by over 60 participants from nine ASEAN Member States, with the exception of Brunei Darussalam, the meetings highlighted progress of activities and discussed strategies and project activities as step forward for activities implementation at regional and national levels from 2015-2017.

Overview of the implementation strategies of the ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems

The 5^th PPM agreed with the overall implementation strategies of SAS project outlining key activities and their linkages across the three intervention areas, namely policy framework, production technologies (i.e. biocontrol agents, soil and nutrient management), and market linkages. Project implementation strategies appears below.

The 5^th PPM recognized that other GIZ partner projects could provide complementary support in the implementation of SAS Project. These projects include:

Forestry and Climate Change (FOR-CC) (Climate Smart Agriculture Component)
Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA)
ASEAN Food Standard
Remote sensing-based Information and Insurance for Crops in Emerging Economies (RIICE)

Outcomes and Recommendations of the 6^th Meeting of ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation

The proposed activities and interventions namely, policy frameworks, implementation of production technologies, and market linkages were discussed and agreed. Complementing the interventions at national level for achieving the project goals of SAS, there are some regionally integrative elements that support the implementation of the AIFS and also relate to ASEAN standards like ASEAN Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Organic.

Outcomes and Recommendations of the 1^st Meeting of ASEAN Soil and Nutrient Management (SNM) Expert Group

The Meeting agreed on the following.

Draft definition of the term “soil and nutrient management” for ASEAN Guidelines as “Soil and nutrient management is an integrated measure to manage soils, nutrients, water and crops in a sustainable manner to optimize crop production”;
The tentative scope of ASEAN Guidelines on SNM; and
To include general role concerning the bio-input database after the scope is defined.

Outcomes and Recommendations of the Dialogue on ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework

The Dialogue discussed on what and how “ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (SAS)” can support ASEAN and ASEAN Member States. The recommendations for activities have been provided in relation to the two topics discussed i.e. a) Synergizing food security policy (national and regional) as well as develop and promote Sustainable Agrifood Systems; and b) Developing/promoting market linkages.

Challenges and Way Forward for the ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems

SAS project should give focus in the promotion of sustainable agrifood systems and how it will contribute to food security in ASEAN;
Sustainable agrifood systems should target on GAP products by improving integrated pest management (through the use of bio-inputs), better soil and nutrient management, and market linkages. Organic products could be considered if they are considered high priority in the country(s);
Policy dialogue on food and nutrition security at both regional and national levels are important to raise awareness on the AIFS Framework, linkages and contribution of sustainable agrifood systems to food security and other issues of importance (i.e. food trade, nutrition, etc.);
Planning and implementation of SAS activities across intervention areas at both regional and national levels should be coordinated to ensure interlinkages, synergies and greater impacts; and
Capacity development is considered a cross-cutting issue across intervention areas and should be designed and developed to suit the target groups and context.

Launching and handing over of the translation AIFS Framework and ASEAN BCA Guidelines

In conjunction with four meetings, the translation the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and the ASEAN Guidelines on the Regulation, Use and Trade of Biological Control Agent (BCA) was launched and handed over to Head delegations from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand for the implementation by the ASEAN Member States at national level.

ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and the Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN region (SPA-FS)

The translation of AIFS Framework and SPA-FS has been accomplished for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand with a view to facilitating the implementation at the national level and promoting awareness and understanding among concerned stakeholders, which need multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder approaches and collaboration.

It is hoped that AIFS Framework provides a useful basis for mutual understanding on food security and the development of policies and strategies to improve food security situation at national level and contributes to ASEAN integration and community-building process.

ASEAN BCA Guidelines

The ASEAN Guidelines on the Regulation, Use and Trade of Biological Control Agent (BCA) describes ways to improve sustainable crop protection through more extended use of BCA in concert with the principles of “integrated pest management”. A working definition, focusing on BCA within the context of internationally-recognized IPM narratives. BCA encompass a wide range of products. It is acknowledged that they are not applicable to all pest management situations, so specific case studies, where application appears effective and feasible; regulations and how they might develop in future, with necessary improvements, rationalization and harmonization; and suggestions for improvement that integrate aspects of regulation and use of BCA in details are described in the Guidelines.

It is hope that the Guidelines provides an agreed framework for future development of BCA: specifically creating a regional blueprint for national regulation and implementation strategies. In addition, harmonization of registration requirements would make regulation of BCA easier, less costly and promote their trade between ASEAN Member States.

06/12/201409/08/2017

1st ASEAN Expert Group on Soil and Nutrient Management

The First Meeting of ASEAN Expert Group on Soil and Nutrient Management

German International Cooperation (GIZ) through the ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS) project hosted the First Meeting of the ASEAN Expert Group on Soil and Nutrient Management (SNM) for the ASEAN Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management (SNM), from 3^rd – 4^th December 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The two-day meeting was attended by delegates from the nine ASEAN Members States (AMS).

Food security has been recognised as an importance agenda of ASEAN. In addressing long term food security and improve the livelihood of farmers in the region, there are need for ASEAN to provide regionally coordinated policy recommendations in particular to support sound management of soil and nutrient in promoting sustainable agriculture and food production systems in the region.

In order to achieve this, the project aims i) to establish the Regional Technical Expert Group on Soil and Nutrient Management; and ii) to develop the ASEAN Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management.

The First meeting of ASEAN Expert Group on SNM served as a face-to-face dialogue platform for ten senior experts from AMS to brainstorm ideas and discuss on the scope of guidelines, objectives, and target user. The Meeting also discussed their roles and responsibilities in drafting the ASEAN Guidelines. Thandar Nyi from Myanmar and Dr. Varughese Philipfrom the Philippines were elected as the chairperson and the vice chairperson of the Meeting, respectively

The key outcomes from the First meeting include:

Tentative scope of the Guidelines to cover general property of soils in ASEAN; soil problems in ASEAN; good soil, nutrient and crop management practices; fertiliser regulations and standards.
Term of Reference (TOR) of the Regional Technical ExpertsGroup in writing up the ASEAN Guidelines with support from national experts through national consultation meetings and fora.

The next expert group meeting will be held in April 2015 to discuss further on the draft outline of contents of ASEAN Guidelines on soil and nutrient management.

By Wannipa Soda, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems

23/04/201411/08/2017

ASEAN Biocontrol Strengthens the Capacity of the National Trainer Pool for Food Security and Nutrition in Cambodia

8.-Activities-Cambodia23-25.04.2013-640×360

The ASEAN Biocontrol Project and the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) jointly organized a three-day Refresher Training Course for the National Trainer Pool in PhnomPenh, Cambodia from April 23–25, 2013. The training is one of the project activities to support the implementation of the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and its Strategic Plan of Action for Food Security (SPA-FS).

Aimed at strengthening the capacity of the National Trainer Pool for Food Security and Nutrition in Cambodia, the training introduced emerging topics in food security and nutrition such as climate change and social safety nets.

Additionally, the trainers were acquainted with the AIFS Framework, which is a joint approach for cooperation among the ASEAN member states in dealing with the food security issues in the region to ensure long-term food security and to improve the livelihoods of farmers. The AIFS Framework was adopted at the 14th ASEAN Summit in 2009.

The National Trainer Pool for Food Security and Nutrition, officially established in 2009, comprises members of government, development partners, institutions, civil society and NGOs.

The Trainer Pool, which is managed by CARD, plays a vital role in strengthening human resource development in the field of food security and nutrition in Cambodia. Eighteen trainers from the Pool actively participated in the three-day training.

A representative from the Department of Agriculture, Lao PDR also attended to learn how the Trainer Pool functions and exchange experiences. The Trainer Pool plans to organize 12 training sessions at the national, sub-national and community levels before the end of 2013.

27/03/201411/08/2017

The 5th (Joint) Meeting of the ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 12 March 2014

The Fifth Meetings of the ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation are jointly organized on 12 March 2014 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation convened to review the draft of the ASEAN Guidelines on the Regulation, Use and Trade of Biological Control Agents (BCA) which would be further submitted to the ASEAN Working Group on Crops (ASWGC) for approval.

The Experts discussed and provided comments on the ASEAN Guidelines and agreed to include a short message from Myanmar who recently participated in the Meeting of ASEAN BCA Expert Groups.

There are ongoing field trials in Cambodia and Thailand to evaluate the effectiveness of BCA for pest and disease management in which the progress on the field trials has been reported to the Meeting. The results from the field trials would also be incorporated into the ASEAN Guidelines.

The Expert Groups proposed to meet again after the endorsement of the ASEAN Guidelines.

22/03/201411/08/2017

Trust and Control – Consumer Field Trip to where the food is grown

Kampong Chhnang – Forty-one costumers of Natural Agri-Products shops (NAP), a social-business branch of the Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) in Phnom Penh, joined a one-day field trip to Kampong Chhnang province to see where their food is sourced. The field trip, including local media, visited organic vegetable produces in Thnoung Kambot village; Svay Chhroum commune and Thmor Reap village; Dok Kroung village; and Pong Ror commune of Rolea Baear District.

The visit is part of CEDAC’s Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) – a locally focused quality assurance system. The consumers certify producers based on active participation and foundation of trust, transparent relationships and dialogue as well as knowledge exchange.

Consumers learned the behind-the-scenes of organic farming and biological control approaches to agriculture. The Cooperation between CEDAC and the GIZ project ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (Biocontrol) supports farmers to strengthen their knowledge on irrigation techniques, organic fertilizer production, protection of useful insects (predators) and application of other useful Biocontrol Agents (BCA) like Trichoderma Harzianum.

The customers of the NAP shops in Phnom Penh enjoyed the trip out of the city and actively discussed organic agriculture, health and environmental issues with farmers and the advisors from CEDAC and GIZ.

The participants of this field visit are now 100% confident of product origin and quality of the organic vegetables available in eight NAP shops in Phnom Penh. They want to share their impressions with their friends and relatives as well.In addition to the consumer field trips, CEDAC and GIZ are introducing a new Documentation Handbook for farmers, which is based on IFOAM Standards – an internationally applicable organic standard that can be used directly for certification. The farmers have to document every input and activity for their production. The data is controlled and verified first by commune leader, then by the internal inspector, and finally by the ICS Supervisor in CEDAC Headquarters. Trust and Control are going hand in hand.

Visit NAP on facebook: www.facebook.com/CEDACNAP

Contact:

Claudius Bredehöft

National Project Coordinator Cambodia

ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (Biocontrol)

Mobile: +855 12 21 54 30

Email: claudius.bredehoeft@giz.de

17/11/201311/08/2017

4th Project Partner Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 11-13 March 2014

ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN Biocontrol) 4th Project Partner Meeting Highlights Achievements and Discusses 2nd Phase Project Prospects

The Fourth Project Partner Meeting (PPM) of the ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN Biocontrol) Project, the 4th Project Steering Committee Meeting and the 5th Meeting of the ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation took place from 11-13 March 2014 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. More than 50 participants from ten ASEAN Member States and other partners attended the meeting. Mr. Adelbert Eberhardt, Country Director, GIZ Office Phnom Penh and Mrs. Birgit Strube, First Secretary, Deputy Head of Cooperation, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Phnom Penh represented GIZ and BMZ respectively and delivered the remarks. The meeting was opened by Dr. Hean Vanhan, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Agriculture on behalf of H. E. So Khan Rithykun, Director-General of the General Directorate of Agriculture, and Director of the National IPM Programme, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Cambodia. The PPM highlighted the project’s achievements and discussed the project’s future prospects in facilitating effective implementation of the 2nd Project Phase.

Back-to-back with the PCM, the 5th ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation, and the 4th Project Steering Committee Meeting convened on 12 March 2014. The ASEAN BCA Expert Groups Meeting deliberated the final draft of the ASEAN Guidelines on the Regulation, Use and Trade of Biological Control Agents (BCA) prior to its submission for consideration and endorsement by the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Crops (ASWGC). The Project Steering

Committee Meeting meanwhile considered and approved a number of key issues for project implementation.

On the last day of the meeting, MAFF organized a field trip for participants to Kandal province to visit the demonstration plots of cucumber and tomato farmers under Cambodia’s National Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programme. The farmers applied Trichoderma, which is a biological control agent to control pests. The results were more satisfactory than in the plots using only chemical pesticides.

The objectives of the meetings were fulfilled with active deliberation and fruitful outcomes as well as follow-up actions for project implementation. The ASEAN Guidelines on the BCA will be submitted for endorsement to the 21st Meeting of the ASWGC in May 2014 in Cambodia. The events received special attention from the local media and were attended by a dozen reporters. The meetings were successfully organized by German International Cooperation (GIZ) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Cambodia.