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In the wake of increasing demand for
more stringent sanitary and phytosanitary standards, ASEAN member
countries need to work closely together to harmonize these standards
by improving the capacity in regulating and controlling plant
health.
The Director of Agriculture, Doctor
Haji Mohd. Yussof bin Haji Mohiddin made the remark Wednesday at the
Third ASEANET Loop Coordinating Committee Meeting and Workshop on
promoting the development of national plant disease herbaria and
athropod pest collections in ASEAN. Doctor Haji Mohd. Yussof said
fundamental to these needs is to strengthen the herbaria of insect
pests and plant diseases in the region. The lack of comprehensive
and complete collections of such pests and diseases is a challenge
to ASEAN member countries and it presents an opportunity for further
cooperation.
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The Director of Agriculture went
on to say ASEANET is the Southeast Asian loop of Bionet
International, which provides a platform for regional
collaboration in the field of taxonomy and biosystematics. He
hopes ASEANET will continue to work towards enhancing the
development of biosystematics in the region.
In this regard, he believes
there are needs for capacity building in plant health
resources, particularly in monitoring pests and plants
diseases. This will contribute immensely towards promoting
regional trade of foods and agricultural products. The two-day
meeting will cover topics on biodiversity and field of
biosystematics.
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