On 23-24 June 2025, the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) Secretariat, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF-Japan), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC), and the Settlement and Land Records (SLRD), Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) of Myanmar, successfully held a workshop titled "Promote Rice Planted Area and Production Estimation Using Space-Based Technologies in Myanmar" at Nay Pyi Taw,
The opening session featured remarks from Dr. Win Htut, Director General, SLRD, MOALI, and Dr.Sumanya Ngandee, AFSIS Manager
This workshop aimed to strengthen the technical capabilities of SLRD officials and regional offices in utilizing satellite remote sensing data, particularly from the ALOS-2 and Sentinel-2 satellites, to accurately assess rice cultivation areas and estimate rice production. These activities show the part of an ongoing effort to enhance agricultural monitoring through the Inter-national Asian Harvest mOnitoring system for Rice (INAHOR) system.
With active participation and cooperation from all attendees, the workshop concluded successfully. The outcomes are expected to significantly enhance the precision of agricultural statistical data collection and support in-country operations under the SAFER Project
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On 5–6 March 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat participated in the 14th Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Council via video conference, hosted by the Kingdom of Cambodia. The meeting brought together representatives from ASEAN Plus Three countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the APTERR Secretariat, and the AFSIS Secretariat to discuss key issues related to regional food security and emergency rice reserves.
On 18 February 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat participated in the international event Google’s “Impact of AI on Global Agriculture,” organized by Google.org at Roseate House, Aerocity, New Delhi, India.
On 12-13 February 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat, in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Japan and the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), Ministry of Agriculture Cooperatives (MOAC), conducted a workshop conducted a workshop The Promoting Rice Planted Area and Production Estimation Using INAHOR and Space-based Technologies in Thailand at the Meeting Room 2, Innovation Building, 3rd FL, Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE)
The In-Country Workshop on Promoting Rice Planted Area and Production Estimation Using Space-based Technologies in Lao PDR was jointly organized by AFSIS Secretariat, JAXA, MAFF Japan, and MAE Lao PDR under the AFSIS-GIS and SAFE projects. The event was held in Vientiane with hands-on training on 9 February 2026 and a workshop on 10 February 2026.
