Background
            The stability of food supplies in the Asia-Pacific region was a prominent issue during the 1980’s. There was a need for urgent attention to a wide range of agri-business development activities, such as improving storage and warehousing, grading and standardization, transportation, processing and conversion and preservation. This would require regional cooperation in educating the issues and factors involved to the various stakeholders within the market.

            In response to this issue, FAO sponsored a regional Group Consultation on Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries for Food Marketing Systems Improvement. In addition, it was recommended by the group of governments and food marketing institutions of 12 countries and a representative from UNESCAP that a voluntary association of food marketing institutions should be established. As a result, the Association of Food and Agricultural Marketing Agencies in Asia and the Pacific (name of AFMA at that time) began to operate in 1983 using financial and technical support of the FAO, as well as contributions from governmental member agencies. In 2006, the Association of Food and Agricultural Marketing Agencies in Asia and the Pacific changed their name to the Agricultural and Food Marketing Association for Asia and the Pacific to relate to its new aim of being the association for all marketers instead of the association of only marketing agencies.

            AFMA Secretariat is based in the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), Bangkok. AFMA operates under membership contributions, its own activities and financial support from the international agencies.

Objectives

•  to stimulate economic and technical cooperation among food marketers in the Region
•  to establish among its members a machinery for systematic interchange of information and experiences regarding various aspects of food marketing activities
•  to establish and maintain appropriate relationship with FAO of the United Nations and other international and regional organizations pursuing similar or related objectives

Organization chart

Management structure

            AFMA is an autonomous body governed by an Executive Committee (EXCOM) and General Assembly (GA) and backstopping by FAO. All administration, coordination among members, and initiate proposals are managing by the Secretariat.

GA comprises of every members of the Association, which shall meet at least once every two years. GA shall elect of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, EXCOM members and an auditor and decide the location of Secretariat.
GA determines the conditions for admission of AFMA members and provision of AFMA constitution, rules for voting and convening its meetings.

EXCOM comprises of EXCOM members which is elected from one institution of each country by the General Assembly. The EXCOM members will meet at least once a year and has two year term.
EXCOM considers the application of membership, annual program and budget of the Association.

Secretariat comprises of Executive Director and staffs appointed by her. Secretariat responses for full-time administration, ensure co-ordination among members, organize gathering, initiate proposal, financial management, issue the publication and take action according to functions and aims of the Association.

CHAIRMAN 
Mr. Deepak Kumar Panwar
Chairman and Managing Director, FCI, India
 
VICE CHAIRMAN 
Dr. Han Jizhi
Director, Policies and Regulations Department, SAG, China
 
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 
1. Mr. Deepak Kumar Panwar, FCI, India
2. Dr. Han Jizhi, SAG, China
3. Mr. Molla Waheduzzam, MoFDM, Bangladesh
5. Mr. Mohamed Shariff Abd. Aziz, FAMA, Malaysia
6. Mr. Win Aung, UMFCCI, Myanmar
7. Mr. Hari Narayan Shah, NFC, Nepal
8. Mr. Chan-Ho Choi, NACF, Republic of Korea
 
AFMA Secretariat 
Ms. Juejan Tangtermthong   Executive Director
Ms. Ms. Articha Taychapipranai   Program Assistant
Ms. Ms. Sutisa Loganit   Administrative Assistant