The 1st Japan – Thailand Expert Dialogue on Agricultural Statistics – AFSIS : Asean food security information system

On 13–15 January 2026, the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), Thailand, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan, and the AFSIS Secretariat, conducted the 1st Meeting of Japan–Thailand Expert Dialogue on Agricultural Statistics. The meeting was held at the Office of Agricultural Economics and field survey activities in Chonburi Province. On this occasion, Mr. Krongsak Songraksa, Deputy Secretary-General of OAE, Thailand, welcomed Mr. Shusuke Fukami, Director General of the Statistics Department, MAFF Japan, together with the Japanese expert delegation, and delivered the opening remarks for the meeting. The objective of the dialogue was to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the development of agricultural statistics by enhancing data quality, modernization, and alignment with international standards. The meeting served as a platform for exchanging knowledge, technologies, and best practices in agricultural statistics between Thailand and Japan, with a particular focus on the application of advanced technologies and digital tools in agricultural data collection and analysis. During the discussion sessions, Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, AFSIS Manager, presented the outcomes of the AFSIS Special Workshop held in 2025, the AFSIS work programme for 2026, and ongoing initiatives, as well as proposed directions and action plans to strengthen the long-term sustainability of AFSIS. The presentation highlighted the importance of AFSIS’s role as a regional mechanism supporting food security in the ASEAN region, including capacity-building activities, data development, and ongoing discussions with the ASEAN Secretariat, as well as indicative budgetary considerations. In addition, the field visits in Chonburi Province provide participants with opportunities for hands-on learning and practical exchange. The field activities covered oil palm plantations and agro-industrial facilities, as well as digital survey demonstrations at rice farmers’ plots, showcasing practical applications of field data collection, digital survey methods, and the use of advanced technologies to support agricultural statistics and food security monitoring.

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