Thailand hosts APEC conference on natural resources management

BANGKOK, Aug 6 (TNA) - Thailand, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) International Conference on National Resources and Infrastructure Management for Agriculture in Bangkok from August 6-8, focusing on the management of land and water for sustainable agriculture. Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut on Monday opened the regional conference, in which ambassadors and representatives of APEC member economies, including Thailand, as well as experts from international agencies take part. During the three-day meeting, the participants are scheduled to exchange results of relevant research projects on the management of land and water for agriculture, as the resources have been deteriorating and affecting productivity. The forum will come up with proposals for APEC member economies to improve the management of their land and water for the sake of regional food security in the future. Minister Theera acknowledged that the APEC conference is an opportunity to present Thailand's successful land and water conservation projects, especially those initiated by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej to conserve and rehabilitate land including the growing of vetiver grass to rehabilitate land. The participants are also scheduled to inspect the operations of the Huay Sai Royal Development Study Center in Thailand's upper southern Phetchaburi (เพชรบุรี) Province.(TNA)