The 2nd Member Meeting of the Regional Council of Agricultural Machinery Association in Asia and the Pacific (ReCAMA) was successfully held on 16-18 July, 2016 in Coimbatore, India, in parallel with the Indian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers’ Meet (AMMM – 2016) during the period of Indian Agricultural Machinery Exhibition (AGRI INTEX 2016).

The Regional Council of Agricultural Machinery Associations in Asia and the Pacific (ReCAMA) was established in 2014, with the objective of promoting sustainable agricultural mechanization in Asia and the Pacific through strengthening the capacity of national agricultural machinery associations, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and information, and enhancing collaboration and closer business connection among national associations and their members. Up to date, ReCAMA has 17 member associations from 13 countries, namely, Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia Federation, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.

The 2nd Member Meeting of ReCAMA was co-organized by the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) and the India Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers' Association (AMMA-India) with the support of the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA). Around 80 participants attended the event from 13 member associations of 11 countries, including Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Russia Federation, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.

Dr. Katinka Weinberger, OiC of CSAM delivered Opening Remarks at the 2nd Member Meeting of ReCAMA; and emphasized the important and proactive role of agricultural machinery associations in terms of intermediating and facilitating business-government relations, improving members’ profitability and competitiveness, providing business information and advices, and facilitating innovation and technology transfer. Dr. DS Balachandra Babu, President of AMMA-India gave Welcome Remarks and reiterating the importance of ReCAMA in enhancing information exchange and cooperation among pertinent associations in the agricultural machinery sector in the region. 

The Meeting admitted three new member associations from Malaysia, Turkey and Vietnam, namely Malaysia National Farmers Organization, Turkish Association of Agricultural Machinery & Equipment Manufacturers, and Vietnam Society of Agricultural Engineering. Sri Lanka Agriculture Machinery Manufacturers and Suppliers Association and Thai Society of Agricultural Engineering were respectively elected Chair and Vice-Chair Associations for 2017 facilitating the work of the Council together with CSAM – the Secretariat of ReCAMA. The work report and work plan of the Council in 2016-2017 was discussed, refined and endorsed at the Meeting. It is agreed that the 3rd Member Meeting of ReCAMA will be held in Oct. 2017 in Hefei China in parallel with the Agrievolution Alliance Summit 2017 during the period of the China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition.

Sessions for cooperation among member associations and business matchmaking were arranged at the 2nd Member Meeting of ReCAMA. The participants also visited the Sandfit Foundries Private Limited in Coimbatore.

CSAM will make greater efforts to engage with other agricultural machinery associations in member States and explore cooperation opportunities with the influential agricultural machinery events in the region including the South East Asian Agri Business Show (SIMA ASEAN) and AGRITECHNICA ASIA.