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Yangon, 2 April - The third annual meeting of Myanmar Academy of Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries was opened at International Business Centre on Pyay Road here this afternoon, with an address by State Peace and Development Council Secretary-1 General Khin Nyunt.

Secretary-1 General Khin Nyunt made a speech. He said nowadays the State Peace and Development Council has been making efforts for all-round development of the country to be able to stand tall among international community.

A study of international situation revealed that this is the time when all developing countries like the Union of Myanmar are striving in competition with others for development of modern science and technology with the passage of time, for producing highly-qualified human resources for the development of various sectors including economic, social and defence sectors and for strengthening the national economic life.

At a time when developing countries are building their own national economic strength together with the development of science and technology to be able to protect the national interest, the capability of intellectuals and intelligentsia is the major strength for their countries.

The Union of Myanmar has a favourable climate and is rich in valuable resources and her citizens have high intellectual ability. So, there is no difficulty in effectively exploiting abundant resources utilizing knowledge and skills while the citizens are being trained to be skillful in modern science and technology.

So, Head of State Senior General Than Shwe has given guidance on establishing academies that can nurture human resources in technological field to effectively develop the country. In accordance with the guidance of the Head of State, experienced and highly-qualified intellectuals and intelligentsia who can actively serve the interests of the State are organized; academies are formed with them and duties assigned, he said.

At present, it is heartening to see that academies including the MAAFLF are in a position to play a leading role in respective sectors, he added.

So, the intellectuals and intelligentsia, who have been assigned duties to serve the interests of the State and the public, are to use their outstanding knowledge and rich experience for the State. Moreover, they are to unitedly and actively strive for producing new generation intellectuals and intelligentsia for development of modern science and technology in various fields, he stressed.

Agriculture, forest and livestock & fisheries sectors are most reliable resources of Myanmar. Agriculture, livestock & fisheries and forest sectors constitute 42 % of GDP. So they play a crucial role in promoting national economic life.

In addition, agriculture, livestock & fisheries and forest sectors provide food to the public and they fulfil the food, clothing and shelter needs and are the source of livelihood of rural people who are the majority of the population. So they can promote the living standard of the public.

The State's invaluable agricultural, forestry and fishery resources can be effectively utilized for the national interest only if their value is being enhanced with the use of advanced technologies.

In addition to the economic development, the issues on environment conservation, climate changes, and biodiversity conservation are being taken into consideration in tapping the resources. Thus, the application of technologies in utilizing the resources is becoming more and more important.

Collective duties have been assigned to the scholars for the effective use of science and technologies for the national interest. Thus, the efforts of the academy are much important for development of the agricultural, forestry and livestock and fisheries sectors in accord with the goals.

The academy has laid down work programmes for human resources development in agricultural, forestry, and livestock breeding and fishery sectors. The work programmes are: to sponsor research paper reading sessions; to hold seminars and talks, to organize technological workshops; to give lectures at the universities; to compile books on the technologies; to compile papers; to take part in the applied research and basic research programmes of the universities and research divisions; to participate in the courses conducted by the departments and enterprises under the ministries; and to cooperate in the work programmes laid down by the ministries.

The academy has held research paper reading sessions for three consecutive years, presenting 142 papers on the agriculture, forestry and livestock breeding and fishery.

It has compiled the papers and discussions into books, and distributed them to departments and enterprises under the ministries, universities, research departments and libraries, thus, giving much benefits to the staff and students.

It has also organized seminars and workshops for dissemination of the various branches of knowledge. During its three-year period, the academy invited scientists from research departments and universities from abroad, and held seminars for the benefit of new generation scholars.

The members of the academy often give lectures on the respective subjects at the universities, helping enhance the qualifications of the students. They are also acting as supervisors at the post graduate courses, external examiners as well as resource persons giving talks on the respective fields of the academy. They are the experienced scholars giving assistance for emergence of highly-qualified human resources.

In addition, their efforts to compile books on the various studies, and cooperation in the functions of the applied and basic research programmes of the universities and research divisions will effectively enhance the standard of knowledge on the respective subjects.

He said the Union of Myanmar is an agricultural country which is blessed with good and pleasant climate and fertile lands. Therefore the government has given encouragement to development of agriculture as well as livestock breeding, fisheries and forestry sectors. Technical assistance of agriculture, forestry, livestock breeding and fisheries experts contributes toward producing the better results of strong national economic life, he said.

Requirements are to be provided for full utilization of water and land resources in agriculture sector, increase of crop cultivation acreage and use of machinery power and modern techniques and good quality crops. Modern techniques and research work of the experts are also to be added to the task, he said.

He spoke of the need for the experts to point out systematic and useful exploitation of forest resources for conservation of environment and balance of geographical conditions. He also said they are to supervise the tasks of manufacturing of products with the use of high-technology, conserving forest and botanical and biological diversity and maintaining harmonious ecological system in forestry sector.

He said in livestock breeding sector endeavours are to be made for boosting production of high quality fish and meat, development of techniques on livestock breeding, use of new techniques in production, packaging and distribution and technological development that contributes towards production of foods which are not harmful to the consumers.

At the same time, he said, emphasis is to be placed on necessary research work and technological development for conservation of Myanma marine and fish and prawn resources and systematic exploitation without depletion of the resources.

In international situations, he said, it is very hard to believe in others due to the competition among the nations, hatred and hostility towards others, selfish undertakings for one's nation and peoples. Therefore, efforts are to be made on self-reliance basis for development and now is the time for placing emphasis on human resource development.

He said now is the time when the entire people are to make concerted efforts for national development and for enabling the Union of Myanmar to stand tall among the nations of the world whatever role they are in.

He said the academy is to make continued efforts in unity for national interest in the respective fields in accord with the objectives of the State.

In conclusion, he urged the experts of the academy to utilize their expertise in exploitation of natural resources for interest of the nation and its people, to strive for producing new generation intellectuals and intelligentsia and development of modern techniques that play a vital role in development of the nation and national economic life and to make endeavours for long-term interest of the nation and its people with the combination of invaluable wisdom, rich experience, thoughts and power of national spirit.

Next, the Secretary-1 , the commanders, the ministers, the deputy ministers and heads of departments posed for documentary photos together with the chairman of the academy and guests.