The populations of Southeast Asia are trending to increase by more than 2 million people by 2030 which will lead to a doubling of the demand for food and cereal crops, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Bounkhuang Khambounheuang.

“This presents a big challenge because if we accelerate production that is not environmentally friendly, it will have negative impacts on the health of its citizens due to degraded land, damaged forests, and low quality agricultural production,” said Mr Bounkhuang.

As a result, he called for clean, quality agricultural production so as to increase the incomes of local farmers as well as to protect natural resources and the environment.

The 1st Lao Initiative on Conservation Agriculture meeting in Southeast Asia was held in Vientiane Capital on May 5 in the presence of Director General of the Planning and Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Xaypradeth Chounlamany and representatives of the ASEAN Secretary General to Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar and Cambodia.

The two-day meeting aimed to devise and design original methods of environmentally friendly industrial agricultural production so as to ensure the future health of society.

Participants also discussed future venues for the exchange of information on techniques and integrated innovations for environmentally friendly bio-agricultural production among Southeast Asia member states.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by Manythone

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