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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been urged to boost production and exportation of organic farm produce so as to become an organic foods supplier for the world.

Speaking at a workshop on opportunities for organic farm produce development in the Mekong Sub-region held in Bangkok on February 3, Vice President of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), Andre Leu, highlighted the regional potential.

He said ASEAN should gear itself toward that direction in an effort to increase farmers’ incomes, improve living conditions and contribute to environmental protection.

Demand for organic farm produce was on the rise in 2009 amidst the global economic downturn with China taking the lead. World consumption of organic farm produce and other related products is estimated at US$100 billion a year, of which the North American market makes up half.

Thailand and other ASEAN members have great potential in exporting organic farm produce such as rice, seafood, sugar-cane and cassava to Australia under the ASEAN-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

As many as 138 countries are engaged in growing organic produce on a total territory of 30.4 million hectares, mostly in Asia and Africa.

In Vietnam, the Government, enterprises and non-governmental organisations have helped farmers grow organic agricultural products since the mid-1990s, thus improving farmers’ incomes and reducing the cost of fertilisers.

The major markets for Vietnamese farm produce are European countries meanwhile domestic demand remains limited.

(VOVNews/VNA)