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Modernization of the agricultural processes is seen as one of the paths towards addressing the many issues of rice production, which is the major staple crop of people in the Asian Pacific Region. Through the integration and implementation of suitable Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) like smart phones, drones and robotics, precision agriculture can be harnessed and rice farmers will be more informed and empowered. To shed more light on this topic, in 2019, FFTC and the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) organized an international symposium on “ICTs for Precision Agriculture” and invited 12 rice scientists from eight countries (Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and Malaysia) to present papers on technology packages and country reports on precision agriculture particularly focusing on ICTs. A year later, these papers are now re-edited and published into a book (144 pages) containing three major sections: 1) Understanding Precision Agriculture; 2) Technology Packages for Precision Agriculture; and 3) Precision Agriculture in Asia. Edited by FFTC Deputy Director Dr. Akira Hasbe and the late Zolkafli Bin Aris, Director of the Engineering Research Centre of MARDI, the book is now off the press and is also available online.

For the first time in four years, the Center’s dragon fruit workshop was simultaneously held onsite and online, this time highlighting the role of value chains as it aims to mark a dent in the  global markets.

The FFTC Strategic Action Plan Focusing on Holding Workshops and Seminars in 2021-2024 gives the Center management a clear guide to help prioritize goals, maximize resources, increase the organization’s effectiveness and make better decisions. This means that all major activities for this year and the succeeding four years, will be underpinned based on the following five program themes: 1) increasing productivity by strengthening agricultural R&D and investments; 2) enhancing food value chains and consumer oriented production; 3) promoting climate-smart and resilient agriculture; 4) fostering circular agriculture; and 5) strengthening resource management and rural development.