SEOUL: Bearing the theme “Rethinking New Vision for Agriculture in the Asia-Pacific Region: Towards Sustainable Food Security through Harmonized Public-Private Partnership (PPP),” the Asia Pacific Agriculture Policy (APAP) Forum was held on 3-4 September 2012.

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The forum was jointly organized by APAP Forum Organizing Committee, Korea Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Association, Far East Regional Office of the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO), and the Global Agriculture Policy Institute.

The forum was conducted in 5 sessions, each related to a specific theme:

  • Public-Private Partnership (PPP)  in the rice sector: lessons learned and the way forward
  • Cash crops –Public- Private Partnership for sustainable development
  • Importance of PPP for fruits and vegetables production and trade
  • Patterns and direction of Public Private Partnerships towards sustainable livestock development
  • Moving fisheries forward – opportunities, challenges and practices for Private Public Partnership.
  • Public-Private Partnership modality.

APAP Forum Chairman Dr. Sang Mu Lee from Korea delivered the opening address. Other congratulatory remarks were from the Deputy Minister Suh Kyu Yong of the Korean Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, former Vietnam Vice-Minister Ho Xuan Hung of the Ministry Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), AARDO Secretary General HE Wassfi Hassan El Sriehin, and President Bae, Jong Ha of the Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The keynote address on ‘New Food Security Dynamics: the Food-Water-Energy Nexus and the Role of the Private sector’ was delivered by Dr. Larry Wong from the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysia.

International Tropical Fruits Network provided inputs on the importance of PPPs for fruit and vegetable production and trade. In his presentation, TFNet CEO reported that Public-Private Partnerships in the development of projects for fruits have been practised in many Asian countries. There are no specific PPP models because each are tailor-fit for a specific area: different objectives and the stakeholders’ contribution, risk assumed, and focus. Various modalities of PPP in tropical fruit production were given from the experiences in China, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

TFNet CEO also emphasized that overall goals must be clearly defined and engaging partners should be familiar with their roles. Using a participatory approach, the farmers involved would gain the information needed to understand market demand and strive to produce quality and safe fruits through contract agreements with the private sector (wholesalers and exporters).

He adds that public and private sector collaboration in fruit production can reduce postharvest losses and pest and diseases incidences through introduction of new technologies, extension, and infrastructural development.

Local champions can also help manage PPPs, along with farmers groups and cooperatives.

Project sustainability remains to be the main challenge in implementing PPPs for fruit production and trade, especially with the change in farmer attitude, demographic changes, and reduced support from the Government.

Other papers presented in the session were delivered by Deputy Director General Dr. Nguen Duy Duc of the Vietnam Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology and Senior Consultant Dr. Than Than Sein of the Myanmar Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Producer and Exporter Association, Myanmar. The panel discussants for the session were Korean Advisor Dr. Jin-Young Voon of the Nongwoobio Seed Col, Ltd, Professor Dr. Young-Cheu Lee of the Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries, Deputy Director General Ms.Hoang Thi Dzung of MARD,  and Project Director Dr. SM. Ilyas of the Indian National Institute of Rural Development.

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