On 2 April 2024, the AFSIS Secretariat had an opportunity to visit the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), Ministry of Interior, Thailand. The primary focus of the meeting was to gather insights on several key aspects related to emergency information-sharing mechanism of the DDPM.
The contents of the meeting which included procedures of criteria of data collection, situation monitoring, data analysis, report system and publication as well as cooperation with relevant international organizations.
During the Meeting, Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, an AFSIS Manager, introduced the overview of AFSIS’ s operations and informed the meeting about an emergency information-sharing activity which is one of the main activities under the Project for Strengthening ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) Function for Emergency (SAFER) or SAFER project.
Ms. Chatthip Chumphong, the Director of Academic Research and Development at the Research and International Cooperation Bureau of DDPM, along with Ms. Sujinphorn Panukan, the Director of the Disaster Data Center of DDPM and DDPM officers, provided an overview of DDPM's operations, the process of reporting disasters information in Thailand, mechanisms for updating the disaster database, and early warning mechanism during emergency situations.
The meeting was successful, with excellent cooperation from DDPM Officers. Dr. Sumaya Ngandee, AFSIS manager, expressed appreciation to the DDPM for sharing their valuable insights. AFSIS Secretariat to incorporate the knowledge gained from the meeting into the development of the emergency information-sharing mechanism of the SAFER project in providing timely information about ASEAN disasters and early which can be used for decision-making at a regional level.
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On 23 April 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat participated in the Ad-Hoc Senior Officials Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (SOM-AMAF), held via a virtual platform, to discuss the implications of recent developments in the Middle East on regional food security and to identify coordinated measures to enhance ASEAN’s food resilience, in preparation for the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) Meeting.
The agricultural sector plays a vital role in supporting food security and livelihoods across ASEAN, where diverse production capacities shape the availability of major agricultural commodities such as rice, maize, sugarcane, soybean, and cassava. This report examines the SSR patterns across ASEAN to emphasize regional strengths, structural imbalances, and the implications for food security and agricultural policy in the region.
The self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) is a key indicator of food security. It shows how well Southeast Asian countries can meet rice demand through domestic production, with the region overall remaining increasingly self-sufficient despite ongoing challenges.
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On 19 March 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat participated in the Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026 under the theme “Feeding the Future, Sustaining the Planet” in Manila, the Philippines, organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) . The forum aimed to promote food security policies, review ADB’s related initiatives, and support long-term food systems transformation.
