The International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) held its 13th Board of Trustees Meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on 23 September, a day before the 2019 International Symposium on Tropical Fruits.
It was attended by 16 board members from nine TFNet member countries, two expert members, and representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO), and Crops for the Future Research Centre (CFFRC). Two observers and 4 members of the TFNet Secretariat were also present during the meeting.
His Excellency Mohd Sallehhuddin Hassan, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Malaysia and Chairman of TFNet officiated the meeting as Chairperson. The Vice Chairpersons were Yi Ganjun, Vice President of Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China and Rajbir Singh Panwar, Joint Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare, India.
During the meeting, Acting TFNet CEO Dorothy Chandrabalan presented the progress report for 2018-2019 that includes conferences, workshops and other capacity building activities, information dissemination, finance and administration, and membership growth. Proposed projects and activities for 2019-2020 were also presented to the BOT for their comments and approval. Board members also suggested possible areas of collaboration with their respective government agencies and international organizations.
The BOT report will be disseminated to all members of the Board of Trustees soon. The report will include the minutes of the meeting, the progress report (2018-2019), proposed projects and activities, audit report, financial status, and venue for the next BOT meeting.
Attendance List
Chairperson
HE Dato’ Mohd Sallehhuddin bin Hassan
Secretary General, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Malaysia
TFNet Chairperson and Representative of the Government of Malaysia
Secretary
Ms. Dorothy ChandrabalanÂ
Acting Chief Executive Officer
International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet)
Board Members
Dr. Yi Ganjun
Vice President, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences
TFNet Vice Chairperson and Representative of the Government of China
Hon. Mr. Rajbir Singh Panwar
Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare
TFNet Vice Chairperson and Representative of the Government of India
Ms. Sabine Altendorf
Economist, International Investment and Tropical Fruits
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Mr. Howard Hall
Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
Australia
Mr. Shalendra Prasad
Principal Research Officer, Ministry of Agriculture
Fiji
Hon. Mr. KDS Ruwanchandra
Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development
Sri Lanka
Dr. Lorna Herradura
Agriculture Chief Center IV, Bureau of Plant Plant Industry
Philippines
Dr. Nguyen Quoc Hung
Director General, Fruits and Vegetable Research Institute
Vietnam
Hon. Dr. Manoj Nardeosingh
Secretary General, African-Asian Rural Development Organization
India
Mr. Felix Miller
Chief Corporate Service, Crops for the Future Research Centre
Malaysia
Dr. Mohamad Roff Mohd. Noor
Director General, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute
Malaysia
Mr. Yacob Ahmad
Expert Member and TFNet Adviser
Observers
Mr. Mohd. Faizal Harun
International Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Industry
Malaysia
Ms. Fatin Nadhirah Jazamuddin
International Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Industry
Malaysia