The Invitational Workshop on the Project for Establishing Real-Time ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) and Development Human Resources, hosted by the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion, and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (EPIS) with the collaboration of the AFSIS Secretariat, was held in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, on November 20–25, 2023.
On this occasion, Mr. Jung Yong Ho, Director, International Cooperation Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs South Korea (MAFRA), delivered the opening remarks to all participants. The workshop was attended by representatives from five target ASEAN member countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Vietnam, as well as the AFSIS Secretariat.
During the presentation session, Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, AFSIS Manager, and Mr. Charapon Chantorn, Statistician Senior Professional Level, gave the participants a presentation on the AFSIS project, current achievements, and study results for the implementation of the National Agri-Food Information System (NAIS) Phase 1 and Phase 2. In this regard, AFSIS will continue to support and collaborate with the relevant organizations for the development of human resources in the ASEAN region as well as the enhancement of the ASEAN Food Security Information System.
In addition, the workshop provided all participants with the great opportunity to visit following sites:
1. National Institute of Crop Science in Jeonju city: to visit the institute, which is in charge of technical support, testing, and research on the improvement of varieties of food crops, feed crops, and bioenergy crops, improvement of cultivation methods, preservation of the production environment and quality
2. Korea National University of Agriculture and Fisheries in Jeonju City: To visit the agricultural and Fisheries faculties and learn about precision agriculture. and drone technology for real-time use in smart farming in the Green House. All participants received a demonstration of the integrated smart farm control center, launched a drone, and practiced using the drone to spray insecticide.
3. National Agricultural Museum of Korea in SuwonCity: to learn about the Korean agriculture Inside the museum, there is an exhibition feature the fundamentals of Agriculture land, water, and seed, as well as the agriculture of the past and present that cultivates and harvests crops according to farming processed the use of livestock in the process and the current status of the livestock industry and the direction of changing agricultural technology.
The main purposes of the workshop were to report the results and future plans of the Establishing Real-Time AFSIS and Development Human Resources project and information on the operational guidelines for Phase 3 of ASEAN member countries participating in the project, Pilot Project on Strategic Crop Forecasting System for Food Security in Indonesia (2023-2025), including utilization of spatial information and the use of Big Data and AI in agriculture.
In late November and early December 2024, Malaysia and southern Thailand experienced severe flooding and heavy rainfall, which caused widespread damage, including landslides and agricultural devastation. In Malaysia, 25 districts across seven states were severely impacted, with households evacuated and extensive flooding reported. Similarly, southern Thailand experienced heavy rains and flash flooding, particularly in provinces affecting over 136,000 households. The floods severely damaged agricultural sectors, with significant losses in paddy rice and other crops, amounting to millions of dollars in damages in both countries. In response, both nations initiated emergency measures, including providing aid and conducting damage assessments. Malaysia focused on intensive assistance to affected households, while Thailand mobilized a range of relief efforts, including specialized equipment and emergency vehicles, to support flood-stricken regions. The agricultural losses in both countries highlight the critical need for improved disaster preparedness and more resilient agricultural systems.
The tropical cyclones that impacted the Philippines in November 2024, including Yinxing, Oraji, Usagi, and Man-Yi, have caused widespread devastation across several provinces, resulting in heavy rainfall, severe winds, flooding, and significant agricultural damage. These storms have left communities grappling with extensive losses, including damaged crops, disrupted livelihoods, and displacement. Despite the severe impacts, the government of the Philippines, along with international aid from neighboring countries and global partners, has mobilized resources for relief and recovery. The ongoing efforts to assist those affected highlight the resilience of the Filipino people and the importance of continued preparedness in the face of natural disasters.
On 26-27 November 2024, Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, the AFSIS Manager, participated in the 30th session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-30), held in Perth, Australia. This event was co-organized by the Australian Space Agency (ASA), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The forum's focus was to bring together stakeholders from various space agencies in the Asia-Pacific region to address pressing regional issues through space-based solutions.
On Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 22:57 WITA, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, one of Indonesia’s 120 active volcanoes, erupted on the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province, The eruption, lasting 24 minutes (1,450 seconds), was recorded with a massive amplitude of 47.3 mm. According to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency, a strong eruption sent ash up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), affecting over 10,000 people. Smaller eruptions followed on November 5-6. In response, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) raised the volcano’s alert status to “Awas” (Level IV), indicating a high danger level.
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