Crop protection in the ASEAN region can be achieved by establishing common regulations for better access to tools and technology, according to a senior CropLife Asia executive
CropLife Asia executive director Siang Hee Tan suggested a common regulatory framework for farmers in the ASEAN bloc- comprising Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
According to Tan, ASEAN farmers are among the world’s best at what they do, but are faced with a great number of challenges. “We have a shared responsibility to help them find safe and sustainable agricultural solutions in the face of worsening environmental realities, disease and pests. Providing a harmonised regulatory framework in ASEAN for crop protection products will go a long way in ensuring our farmers are equipped with the 21st century tools and technology they need to meet these challenges and help deliver food security across the region.”
A rising population has begun to put pressure on agribusiness in the region, which is why Tan feels a proper regulatory framework would go a long way in ironing out any obstacles in achieving maximum efficiency.
“We know that in 10 years, the gross domestic product for ASEAN is expected to exceed that of the UK and Japan,” Tan said. “But at the same time, the world’s population will grow by one billion and ASEAN’s by about 60mn.” By then, the region’s agriculture infrastructure should be brought up to the level of consumers, he recommended.
