The Technical Working Groups (TWGs) of the Asian and Pacific Network for Testing of Agricultural Machinery (ANTAM) met online in virtual modality from 9 to 13 December 2021. The TWGs reviewed proposed amendments to the ANTAM Codes on Power Tillers, Paddy Transplanters, and Sprayers. ANTAM testing codes draw upon major international standards and are developed by a pool of regional experts. They represent a joint regional effort involving representatives from the government, research and testing institutes, private sector and manufacturers towards harmonization of testing standards for promotion of trade and use of safe, efficient and environment-friendly agricultural machinery in Asia and the Pacific. The ANTAM initiative has been recognized among the ‘Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development’ by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

The Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) of ESCAP, in its role of ANTAM secretariat, received two inputs for the revision of the Codes, in 2021. Due to the difficulty of receiving formal nominations of TWG members amid the pandemic outbreak, the secretariat convened meetings of the TWGs informally to undertake an initial review of the proposed amendments to the Codes, which will be continued in 2022.

The TWG meetings also discussed proposals for establishing a new TWG on Combine Harvesters and a Sub-Working Group on Mini-Tillers, which are to be brought to the attention of the 8th Annual Meeting of ANTAM on 16 December 2021.