Annual Report 2009 - Asian Productivity Organization

AGRICULTURE SECTOR
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and expands agricultural production. Rural-based
agroprocessing enterprises, however, face a constantly
changing business environment. They are directly
affected by the globalization of markets, advances in
biotechnology and information technology, and evolving
societal concerns about the environment, health,
and nutrition. However, the efficiency and productivity
of many agroprocessing enterprises in the region
remain far from satisfactory. One reason for this is
that the planning and management of agroprocessing
enterprises are becoming increasingly complex. Production
processes must also meet standards on social
and environmental impacts.
The APO organized a workshop on Planning and
Management of Rural-based Agroprocessing
Enterprises, 11–15 May, in Indonesia to enhance the
knowledge and skills of trainers, advisers, and consultants
catering to small agroprocessing entrepreneurs
in rural areas. There were eighteen participants from
nine member countries, three local participants, and
10 local observers.
Program coverage: Planning and management of agroprocessing
enterprises; Productivity and management
tools and techniques for agroprocessing enterprise; Financial
and investment decision-making; Community
capacity development for rural-based agroindustry;
Concept and principles of supply chain management;
and Developing rural agricultural activity through
biodiesel production. Site visits were made to Tembesi
Abattoir (livestock processing), Squeeze (topical fruit
processing), and Putra Bhineka Perkasa PT (coffee
processing).
Good Agricultural Practices and Safety for Fruit
Crops and Vegetables: Managing Food Quality
GAP is meant to enable sustainable, safe agriculture
for satisfying domestic food markets and gaining
market access in developed economies. GAP aims at
meeting consumer preferences for food and agricultural
products that are of high quality, safe, and produced
in an environmentally and socially acceptable
way. The implementation of GAP, however, is difficult
because of the diversity of codes, guidelines, and
definitions within the sector. Some Asian countries
already have their own national GAP codes. For many
developing Asian countries, however, the concept of
GAP is relatively new.
The APO therefore organized a seminar on Good
Agricultural Practices and Safety for Fruit Crops and
Vegetables: Managing Food Quality to promote GAP
in member countries by sharing forerunners’ experiences.
It was implemented by the Directorate General
of Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry
of Manpower and Transmigration of Indonesia, 29
June–3 July in Yogyakarta. Twenty-three participants
from nine member countries attended, and three APO
resource persons were deputed.
Program coverage: Introduction to GAP: Key concepts,
process, and requirements; Drivers, motivation,
and incentives for the adoption of GAP by farmers
and other actors in the agriculture sector; Issues and
challenges in promoting GAP; Harmonizing GAP at
regional and national level: Issues and impediments;
GAP in fruit and vegetable crops: Case of Malaysia;
and Benchmarking GLOBALGAP with national
standards. A site visit was hosted by the Sallaca (snake
fruit) Farm in Sleman district, which was audited by
Q-Pint BV Netherlands and received GAP certification
in 2008.
Application of Advanced Technologies in
Aquaculture
Aquaculture is one of the world’s fastest-growing food
production sectors. Over half of all the aquatic species
consumed are now produced from aquaculture. Asia
contributes about 90% of the world’s aquaculture
production. With reduced yields from capture fisheries
and increasing demand for fish and fishery products,
aquaculture is expected to contribute not only to
bridging the gap between supply and demand of seafood
but also to improve livelihoods and farm incomes
in the rural Asia-Pacific. The aquaculture industry,
however, faces many challenges to be economically,
socially, and environmentally sustainable. There is a
growing need to develop environment-friendly, costeffective
technologies for enhancing aquaculture
productivity.
The APO deputed a study mission on the Application
of Advanced Technologies in Aquaculture to
the Republic of China, 19–23 October, to enhance
participants’ knowledge of advanced technologies and
best practices of sustainable aquaculture production
and postproduction handling through direct exposure
to successful examples in the host country. The Tungkang
Biotechnology Research Center of the Fisheries
Research Institute and CPC with the financial
support of the Council of Agriculture implemented
the program. Nineteen participants from 10 member
countries and six local observers attended, along with
four resource persons.
Program coverage: Aquaculture development in
the Asia-Pacific region: An overview; Policy and
institutional settings for promoting green technologies
of aquaculture production; Advanced technologies
and approaches for sustainable development of
aquaculture; Energy-efficient and environmentfriendly
aquaculture production systems; New
frontiers in aquaculture biotechnology: Opportunities