JOHOR BAHRU, ASEAN member countries need to work together to address various challenges in the agriculture sector, especially involving the issue of land shortages as a result of development and population growth. Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali said that modern farming methods should be widely used because they are capable of increasing the productivity and quality of agricultural produce. 'The population density in all countries is increasing, so we need development, housing and industries, and these require the use of land, whether agricultural or forestry, thus affecting the production of agricultural and food products,' he said. 'Through modern farming methods, we not only help farmers, breeders and fishermen reduce costs but also increase production using existing space through capacity building and sustainable agricultural management." Lokman Hakim told this to reporters after chairing the Special Senior Officials Meeting of the 45th Meeting o f ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (SSOM-45th AMAF). He said among the successes of modern farming in the country are the amount of padi production from twice a year to three times yearly in the same area through better seed technology and farm management. According to him, modern farming methods also attract the interest of the youth to venture into the agriculture sector for the sake of securing the country's food supply thus making it a high-income career. 'An increasing number of youths venture to the agriculture sector and become role models. KPKM also provides various grants for young entrepreneurs, although this field is challenging but when they see the good results, many youths venture into this field," he said. Regarding the three-day SSOM-45TH AMAF, which began today, he said the meeting was attended by delegates from 10 ASEAN countries to discuss cooperation to increase production and maintain the agricultural ecosystem for the security of regional food supply. As host, Malaysia is chairing the meeting for a period of one year from October 2023 until October this year before Myanmar chairs the next meeting. Source: BERNAMA News Agency