- Delegates of TFNet Board of Trustees Members
The International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) held its 4th TFNet Board of Trustees meeting in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia on 26-28 July 2011. Secretary General Dato Mohd Hashim Abdullah of the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA) chaired the meeting while Horticulture Director General Hassanuddin Ibrahim of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture (ILRI) delivered the welcoming address. Delegates who attended included the TFNet Board and observers from 12 member countries.
TFNet presented the progress report and future directions of the network while country members presented the scenarios of the tropical fruit industry in their country, focusing on issues that affect production, marketing, and trade.
Most countries are still lacking expertise and proper infrastructure that would improve post harvest management and quality assurance. There are also existing constraints in the marketing and international trade of tropical fruits due to sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, pests risks, and minimum residual levels (MRL) imposed by importing countries. Another prevailing issue is the disproportionate nature of the tropical fruit value chain system that affects smallholders’ income and their access to the market. These issues are essential in creating future project proposals.
Some notable presentations include Frank Lam’s discussion of the scope, function, and programs of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculturre (IICA). IICA can assist in promoting the expansion of TFNet in Latin America. Michael Hermann, Global Coordinator of Crops for the Future, also discussed the focus of Crops for the Future (CFF) and the use of Geographical Indication as a poverty alleviation strategy for tropical fruit smallholders.
Delegates of the meeting then traveled to Cirebon, West Java to visit a smallholder group mango growing area and a mango collection and packaging export center operated by a young entrepreneur.
The workshop report and presentations can be download here: Download Report & Presentations
List of attendees:
A. TFNet BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS 2009 – 2012
Chairperson
HE Dato’ Mohd. Hashim Abdullah
Representative of the Government of Malaysia
Vice Chairperson
Dr. Yi Ganjun
Representative of the P.R. China
Vice Chairperson
Mr. Muawya Jaber Abdul Rahman (unable to attend)
Representative of the Government of Syria
Mr. Kaison Chang
Representative of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
Mrs. Meliakere Nawaikula
Representative of the Government of Fiji
Dr. Idowu Ademola Adeseye
Representative of the Government of Nigeria
Dr. Michael Hermann
Crops for the Future
Dr. Nguyen Minh Chau
Director, Southern Fruit Research Institute, Vietnam
Mr. Md. Roslan Zulkifli (unable to attend)
Golden Hope Food and Beverages, Malaysia
Mr. Chan Seng Kit (unable to attend)
Managing Director, K-Farm Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia
Professor Dr. Errol W. Hewett
Expert, Massey University, New Zealand
Professor Dr. Sisir Kumar Mitra
Expert, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, India
Secretary
Mr. Yacob Ahmad
Chief Executive Officer, TFNet
B. OBSERVERS
Country members:
Dr. Hassanuddin Ibrahim
Director General, Department of Horticulture, Indonesia
Dr. Amrik Singh Sidhu
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, India
Prof. Dr. Mohamad Abd. Rahim
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh
Dr. Clarito Barron (represented by Dr. Lorna Herradura)
Director, Bureau of Plant Industry, Philippines
Dr. Elshiekh Badreldeen
Director General, Department of Horticulture, Sudan
Dr. Kwon Taek Ryoun
Rural Development Administration, South Korea
Dr. Trinh Khac Quang
Director General, Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam
Mr. Mohamad Salimi Sajari
Divisional Secretary
Ministry of Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Malaysia
Ms. Zetty Noor Akmar Abdul Majid
Ministry of Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Malaysia
Networks and organizations:
Mr Frank Lam
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) – unable to attend
Local representatives:
Ms. Sri Kuntarsih
Director of Fruit Section, Directorate General of Horticulture, Indonesia
Dr. Sobir Ridwani
Center for Tropical Fruit Studies, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia
Mr. Sukarman
Directorate General of Horticulture, Indonesia
Ms. Mardiyah
Directorate General of Horticulture, Indonesia
Mr. Tommy Nugraha
Directorate General of Horticulture, Indonesia
Mr. Rahmat Bagus
International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia
TFNet Board Chairperson delivering his opening remarks
Field Trip to Mango Growing Area in Cirebon
Sampling the Local Variety (Gedong Gincu) in Cirebon
Discussion with the Mango Exporter in Cirebon