Jakarta (VNA) – The ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry(AMAF) have issued a joint statement reaffirming commitment to ensure foodsecurity, food safety and nutrition in the region during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The joint statement was issued at the recent ASEAN Ministerial Meeting onAgriculture and Forestry.

AMAFChair Dato Ali Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism of Brunei, affirmedthat ASEAN will continue working to ensure the sustainable supply ofsufficient, safe and nutritious food that meet the dietary requirement of ASEANpopulations during and after the pandemic.

Whileit is too early to assess the full impact of COVID-19, the pandemic-relateddisruptions on travel and supply chain markets will have potential risks on theavailability and prices of food and agriculture produce in the region dependingon the duration of the outbreak and the severity of containment measures needed,according to the statement.

The AMAF pledged, among others, to minimise disruptions in regional food supplychains by working closely together to ensure that markets are kept open andtransportation of agricultural and food products are facilitated. They alsostressed the importance of reducing excessive price volatility particularlyprice spikes, ensuring adequate emergency food and reserves and providingtimely and accurate market information.

Theministers urged ASEAN member states to implement necessary measures, projectsand programmes at the national level to meet the immediate food needs of theASEAN population, particularly the vulnerable groups in the society.

Further,they highlighted the need to boost the ASEAN nations’ social protectionprogrammes for smallholder farmers, and micro, small and medium enterprises toincrease food production and ensure food security in the region.

According to the statement, ASEAN countries arediscussing a study focusing on the challenges and solutions to reducedisruptions in food and agriculture trade before, during and after the pandemic./.