Southeast Asian ministers commit to eventual elimination of crop burning

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Southeast Asia’s agriculture and forestry ministers agreed to take collective action to minimize and eventually eliminate crop burning in the region, amid deteriorating air quality and haze concerns. cross-border.

In a statement after an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Malaysia, members recognized “the adverse environmental and health impacts of crop burning practices” and pledged to reduce and eliminate them. collectively.

“The meeting recognized the need for sustainable alternatives to crop burning, including the adoption of innovative and environmentally friendly agricultural practices,” he said.

The pledge comes as air quality reached unhealthy levels in several parts of Malaysia in recent days and after weeks of high pollution in Indonesia.

Malaysia’s environment minister in an interview with Reuters on Thursday. asked Indonesia and ASEAN to take action as air quality worsens, attributing it to fires caused by crop burning in Indonesia.

Almost every dry season, smoke from fires to clear land for palm oil and pulp and paper plantations in Indonesia covers much of the region, creating public health risks and worrying tourism operators and airlines. Many of the companies that own these plantations are foreign or listed on the stock exchange abroad.

Jakarta has denied detecting smoke over its borders into Malaysia.

The ASEAN meeting agreed to develop and implement educational campaigns and training programs on sustainable agricultural practices, providing technical guidance on

Alternative methods for land clearing.

“This will require collective efforts, sustained commitment and collaboration between farmers (ASEAN members), local communities and relevant stakeholders,” he said.

The ministers also agreed to review and update existing regulations and guidelines with the aim of phasing out the use of antimicrobials in food production, they said.

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