UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Transcription

1 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC UNITED NATIONS ASIAN AND PACIFIC CENTRE FOR AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AND MACHINERY (UNAPCAEM) Sixth Session of the Governing Council 10 February 2011 Bangkok, Thailand REPORT OF THE SIXTH SESSION OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASIAN AND PACIFIC CENTRE FOR AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AND MACHINERY (UNAPCAEM)

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. The Sixth Session of the Governing Council (GC) of UNAPCAEM reviewed the Work Report of 2010 of UNAPCAEM as well as the administrative and financial status of UNAPCAEM, and endorsed the proposed Work Plan for The Council endorsed the Report of the Sixth Technical Committee (TC) of UNAPCAEM, held on 2 December 2010 in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The Council also reviewed the draft annual report of UNAPCAEM to the 67 th Commission Session of ESCAP. 2. The GC endorsed the draft strategic 5-year plan developed jointly with TC members during the strategic planning workshop held on November 2010 prior to the Sixth TC. The GC discussed resource mobilization and communication issues in particular. 3. The GC recommended that ESCAP and UNAPCAEM intensify resource mobilization efforts through engagement with member countries and other stakeholders. 4. The GC emphasized that project development of UNAPCAEM should reflect the mandate and comparative advantage of the Centre with a strong focus on agricultural engineering and mechanization. 5. The GC thanked member countries for their financial contributions and technical inputs, and the host government of China, in particular, for the generous institutional support provided. The GC agreed to the TC recommendation that a threshold contribution be considered from member countries to ensure the viability of the Centre in the longer term. 6. The GC emphasized that synergy should be forged with various stakeholders, including relevant UN agencies, regional institutions of ESCAP, in particular, CAPSA and APCTT, and the private sector, in project development and implementation. 2

3 I. ORGANIZATION OF THE MEETING A. Date and venue 7. The Sixth Session of the Governing Council of UNAPCAEM was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 10 February B. Opening session 8. Mr. Ravi Ratnayake, Director, Trade and Investment Division, ESCAP, delivered an opening statement. In his opening statement, Mr. Ratnayake first thanked member countries for their strong commitment to the Centre, and importance that member countries attached to the work of UNAPCAEM. Mr. Ratnayake also thanked the Government of Thailand, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in particular, for hosting the meeting. Mr. Ratnayake noted the importance of agricultural engineering and machinery to increasing agricultural productivity in the region against the background of limited natural resources, increasing population and the effect of climate change. He further noted the Centre has tremendous potential to become a Centre of Excellence in the area of transfer of innovative agro-engineering technologies through South-South cooperation. C. Attendance 9. Representatives of China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam attended the session. Therefore, a quorum was achieved. D. Election of Officers [agenda item 2] 10. The Governing Council elected Mr. Madan Mohan Pandey, Deputy Director- General (Engineering) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), as the Chairperson, and Mr. Mohd. Zainal bin Ismail, Director of Mechanization and Automation Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), as the Vice Chair / Rapporteur for the session. E. Adoption of the Agenda [agenda item 3] 11. The Governing Council adopted the following agenda: (1) Opening of the session [agenda item 1] (2) Election of officers [agenda item 2] (3) Adoption of the agenda [agenda item 3] (4) Report on the activities of UNAPCAEM in 2010 and financial status as of December 2010 [agenda item 4]; 3

4 (5) Report of the Sixth Session of the Technical Committee and consideration of the draft strategic plan for UNAPCAEM [agenda item 5]; (6) Proposed work plan for 2011, programme of work for , and resource mobilization issues for [agenda item 6] (7) Review of draft annual report of UNAPCAEM to the commission [agenda item 7] (8) Date and venue of the seventh session of the Governing Council of UNAPCAEM [agenda item 8] (9) Other matters [agenda item 9] (10) Adoption of the report [agenda item 10] II. SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS A. Report on the activities of UNAPCAEM in 2010 and financial status as of December 2010 [agenda item 4] 12. In 2010, the following activities were conducted: a. International Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Seminar held on May 2010, in Beijing; b. Tailored training programmes on cultivation technologies of highyielding rice varieties in the Philippines, Fiji and DPR of Korea from October through December 2010; c. A strategic planning workshop and Sixth Session of the TC held on November and 2 December 2010 in Putrajaya, Malaysia, respectively; d. A training and policy workshop on harvesting and post-harvest technologies for rice production in Myanmar held on December 2010, and a training manual was uploaded on the web site; e. A draft five-year strategic plan was prepared; f. UNAPCAEM improved its web site to make it more user- friendly. 13. The GC commended UNAPCAEM for its achievements in 2010, and endorsed the report of progress of activities undertaken during the year. The GC emphasized that the focus of the Centre should remain agricultural engineering and machinery. The GC recommended that the scope of UNAPCAEM s work should cover the following areas: i) agricultural machinery; ii) land and water management; iii) agro-industrial development; iv) application of ICT in the agricultural sector; v) post-harvest technology, and food chain quality control; 4

5 vi) bio-resources including biomass and bio-energy; and vii) climate resilient technology. 14. The GC emphasized the importance of the proposed establishment of the Asia- Pacific Network for Testing Agricultural Machinery (ANTAM) in promoting intra-regional trade of agricultural machinery and the use of environmentally friendly agricultural machinery. The GC also expressed support and interest in steps leading to the establishment of ANTAM, and suggested that ANTAM be developed into a flagship project to showcase UNAPCAEM s distinct role and niche. 15. The GC recommended partnerships be established with the private sector to solicit technical inputs and financial resources for project development. 16. The GC discussed extensively the functions and structure of the TC and GC as well as their annual meetings. It strongly recommended re-coupling the GC and TC meetings. The GC also debated the pros and cons of optimizing the structure of the TC and GC meetings and recommended the need to have a strong TC for technical inputs for research and projects of the Centre. The GC members were briefed about ESCAP s ongoing streamlining process of the governing structure of all regional institutions in the context of mid-term review of the ESCAP conference structure, and member countries feedback was considered very important in the process. 17. The GC thanked member countries for their valuable technical inputs and financial contributions. B. Report of the Sixth session of the Technical Committee, and consideration of the draft strategic plan for UNAPCAEM [agenda item 5] 18. The strategic planning workshop and the Sixth Session of the TC were held on November and 2 December 2010 respectively in Putrajaya, Malaysia. 19. The GC endorsed the Sixth TC report and the draft strategic plan. The GC further suggested that the strategic plan be widely circulated among member countries to increase the visibility of the Centre and to promote joint implementation of projects for wider regional impact.. The GC also requested that UNAPCAEM intensify communication with member countries, relevant international organizations and the private sector, in particular, through regular contact via newsletters, and encouraged member countries to provide inputs. The GC emphasized that communication should highlight the benefits that the Centre could generate for member countries in order to solicit their financial contribution. C. Proposed work plan for 2011, programme of work for , and resource mobilization issues for [agenda item 6] 20. The GC was informed that in 2011UNAPCAEM s programme of work would focus on the following areas: 5

6 a. Pilot training project on agricultural machinery testing to promote standard testing technologies of agricultural machinery; b. Regional seminar on promoting sustainable agricultural engineering technologies for food security (phase III of the hybrid rice project); c. Technology consultation on high-yielding rice production in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal; d. Implement the resource mobilization strategy and enhance communication with member countries and other stakeholders. D. Review of draft annual report of UNAPCAEM to the Commission [agenda item 7] 21. The GC reviewed the draft report of UNAPCAEM to the 67 th Commission Session, and suggested that corresponding revisions be made based on deliberations at the GC, and the evolving situation before the convocation of the 67 th Commission Session in May E. Date and venue of the Seventh Session of the Governing Council of UNAPCAEM [agenda item 8] 22. Final decision will be made after consultations with member countries. F. Other Matters [agenda item9] 23. Mr. Ratnayake briefed the GC on the Trade and Investment Committee meeting in July 2011, and the role of the Centre in the meeting. Mr. Ratnayake also informed the GC about the ongoing efforts by ESCAP to strengthen its regional institutes. G. Adoption of Report [agenda item 10] 24. The Governing Council adopted its report on 10 February ANNEXES Annex 1: List of participants * * * * * 6

7 Annex 1: List of participants FOR PARTICIPANTS ONLY 10 February 2011 UNITED NATIONS ASIAN AND PACIFIC CENTRE FOR AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AND MACHINERY Governing Council of UNAPCAEM Sixth Session 10 February 2011 UNCC, Bangkok Not represented LIST OF PARTICIPANTS GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMBODIA CHINA Mr. Wang Maohua, Professor, China Agricultural University (CAU), Member of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Beijing, Tel/Fax: (86-10) , Ms. Yuqin Han, Programme Officer, General Affairs Office, Bureau of International Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Engineering, Beijing, Tel: (86-10) , Fax: (86-10) , INDIA Mr. Madan Mohan Pandey, Deputy Director-General, Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan- II, Pusa, New Delhi, , Fax: (91-11) , INDONESIA Mr. Astu Unadi, Director, Indonesia Centre for Agricultural Engineering Research and Development (ICAERD, Banten, Jakarta, Ms. Ida Ayu Ratih, Head of Non ASEAN Sub Division, Center for International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Jl. Harsono RM. No.3, Jakarta 12550, Tel: (62-21) , Fax: (62-21) , 7

8 MALAYSIA Mr. Mohd. Zainal bin Ismail, Director, Mechanization and Automation Research Centre, MARDI Headquarters, P.O. Box 12301, General Post Office 50774, Kuala Lumpur, Tel: , Fax: , Mr. Boniface Basin Nyirob, Second Secretary, Agriculture Office, Embassy of Malaysia, Bangkok 10120, Thailand, Tel: (66-2) , Fax: (66-2) , Not represented Not represented PAKISTAN REPUBLIC OF KOREA THAILAND Ms. Siriporn Thanaratchataphoom, Policy and Plan Analyst, Bureau of Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Office of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Bangkok, Tel: (662) , Fax: (662) , VIET NAM Mr. Nguyen Quoc Viet, Director, Department of Science, Training & International Cooperation, Vietnam Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Post-Harvest Technology (VIAEP), No.126, Trung Kinh Str., Trung Hoa, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Tel: ; Mob , Fax: , OBSERVERS UNAPCAEM Mr. LeRoy Hollenbeck, Head, UNAPCAEM, A/7F, No.12 Yumin Road, China International Science and Technology Convention Centre, Beijing, Tel: (86-10) , Fax: (86-10) , Ms. Ai Yuxin, Senior Expert, UNAPCAEM, Tel: (86-10) , Fax: (86-10) , 8

9 ESCAP SECRETARIAT PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT DIVISION Ms. Rebecca Carter, Associate Programme Management Officer, Technical Cooperation Section, Programme Management Division, Tel: (66-2) , Fax: (66-2) , TRADE AND INVESTMENT DIVISION Mr. Ravi Ratnayake, Director, Trade and Investment Division, Tel: (66-2) , Fax: (66-2) , Mr. Marc Proksch, Officer-in-Charge, Private Sector and Development Section, Trade and Investment Division, Tel: (66-2) , Fax: (66-2) , Ms. Marit Nilses, Economic Affairs Officer, Private Sector and Development Section, Trade and Investment Division, Tel: (66-2) , Fax: (66-2) , 9