Agriculture Ministry hosted 39th meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) in Chiang Mai and presented Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center to be an agricultural prototype model to show potential on agricultural sector.

The discussion would focus on the presentation on King Bhumibol Adulyadej's intelligence on art and science for Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, sustainable fishery, and upgrading agricultural standard.

General Chatchai Sarikulya, Agriculture and Cooperatives minister said after the 39th AMAF meeting held between September 25-29, 2016 in Chiang Mai that the AMAF meeting was the annually meeting for agriculture and forestry ministers of 10 ASEAN Members including Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam with more than 400 participants from related authorities. China, Japan and South Korea joined the meeting as the important trade partners

The meeting purpose is to provide a mechanism for monitoring performance, setting policies and guidelines for standard and practices on agriculture and forestry for ASEAN members. Asean countries will adapt practices on food safety and agricultural products in their countries in line with ASEAN practices and global changes.

The conference comprised of four sub committees 1) the Senior Officials meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (Prep SOM-39th AMAF) and senior agricultural officials of 10 ASEAN countries to consider and approve issues related with the proposal for the AMAF.

2) On September 27, 2017, the senior officials and Asean Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry with the ministers of China, Japan and South Korea (Prep SOM-17th AMAF + 3) were the session of permanent secretary level meeting and Asean senior agricultural officials with China, Japan and South Korea.

3) September 28, 2017, 39th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry session 4) September 29, 2017, ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on agriculture and forestry with three trade partners including China, Japan, and South Korea.

The essence of the conference covered the consideration and approval on implementation of the projects in 2018. The revision of the framework and restructuring working scheme to reduce some sectors as well as the approval of ASEAN cooperation on agriculture, food and forestry strategy. Thailand will mobilise Asean Common Fisheries Policy to sustain industries as well as the approval on agricultural standard.

The benefits that Thailand will gain from this meeting including the participation, and the cooperation on agricultural and forestry among ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea. Thailand endorsed to be the hub of seed development and drafted ASEAN Common Fishery Policy.

During the meeting, Thailand had the bilateral discussions between China, Japan, and Cambodia to promote agricultural, fisheries and food cooperations among government to private, and private to private for solving agro-agricultural problems.

There were also educational activities such as visiting Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center by studying the forestry development to gain upstream four benefits including general utilities, fruit trees, fuel, and soil and water conservation.

And the downstream benefits from fisheries along the reservoirs, livestock, dairy and agricultural industries, the center provides a lot of study activities as "Live Nature Museum".

The centre was the royal initiative reflected King Bhumibol Adulyadej ‘s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, the King's intelligence on art and science.