Agriculture minister Dith Tina leads a meeting to review the project budget to support the establishment of a lab on April 19. MAFF
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina on April 19 set out a list of requirements and suggestions for a new, high-calibre agricultural laboratory proposed for southeastern Takhmao town in Kandal province, according to a statement from his ministry.
Primary objectives of the laboratory include meeting international standards, ensuring food safety and preventing animal illnesses as well as an array of human infectious diseases.
Tina was speaking at a meeting on a budget for the construction and preparation of the new laboratory, earmarked for Sitbou commune – formerly in Kandal’s Sa’ang district – at a “good location” to avoid risks that could be accentuated in more densely populated areas, the statement noted.
He suggested a working group be created to review inventory lists and budget details, along with equipment and human resource issues, in collaboration with ministry officials as needed, to make sure that plans for the “unrivalled” laboratory go smoothly.
Planning must factor in costs of maintenance for equipment and infrastructure to guarantee that experiments are as effective and sustainable as possible, he stated, taking the opportunity to point out the convenience that accommodating researchers of all manner of agricultural specialties at a single laboratory could bring.
In the interim, Tina instructed the officials to mull over what it takes to guarantee efficiency and sustainability at regional laboratories, stressing that these and the proposed facility will have to work closely to provide timely services nationwide, according to the statement.
The ministry has reportedly been drawing up plans to upgrade laboratories across the Kingdom and get them ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, which certifies that they meet the “general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories”.
Ministry spokeswoman Im Rachna affirmed to The Post on April 19 that the new laboratory has gained the support of donors and development partners. However, Rachna said she had no additional details concerning the budgeting or timeframe for construction.
“We cannot comment further until the ministry and development partners have agreed on a model on which to base the laboratory,” she said, expressing hope that the facility will become a valuable asset for the agricultural research community.
Teamwork between researchers from domains such as crops, animal health, fisheries, rubber, and forestry under one roof will promote experience sharing and drive advances for agriculture, especially when it comes to animal health screening, disease prevention and the creation of new plant varieties, she added.
