The Federation shall aim at promoting researches in soil and related sciences and disseminating the acquired knowledge and technology for the benefit of the member societies in the region of East and Southeast Asia. By so doing, the Federation shall contribute to the sustainable development of the region through harmonization of agricultural production and environmental protection.
　The Federation shall also aim at promoting the effective participation of member societies and of individual soil scientists of the region in the work of the International Union of Soil Sciences.

At the 13th Hamburg Congress of International Soil Science Society (ISSS) in 1986, a working group (WG) on Paddy Soil Fertility was established and Prof. Hidenori Wada, then University of Tokyo, was elected as the first Chairman of the WG. Prof. Wada made every effort to organize the first symposium at Chiang Mai, Thailand, with cooperation of the Late Dr. Samarn Panichapong, Secretary of WG and then Advisor of IBSRAM (International Board for Soil Research and Management). In December 1988, a symposium was held with the general theme “Paddy Soil Fertility: Past, Present and Future“, and attended by 180 scientists from 15 countries. The success of the symposium clearly showed that there was sheer need to enhance opportunity for exchange of information in rice research and technology among the countries with rice-based farming systems as an important component of their agriculture.
　　During the same period of time, while preparing for the 14th International Congress of Soil Science (ICSS) to be held at Kyoto, Japan, in 1990, the Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (SSPN) was examining, under the leadership of Ex-President Dr. Akira Tanaka, a plan to establish a regional body to promote researches specifically related to rice cultivation in Monsoon Asia. The plan was adopted and formally resolved at the Annual Meeting of the Society in April 1990 and the task was handed over to Prof. Kazutake Kyuma, Kyoto University, then newly elected President of the Society. Prior to the Kyoto Congress of ISSS, Prof. Kyuma sent by mail an appeal of the Japanese Society of SSPN to the national soil science societies within Monsoon Asia to set up a regional body of academic societies working in the fields of soil science, plant nutrition and fertilizer technology in relation to rice cultivation.
　　As many of the national societies expressed a positive response to the appeal, Prof. Kyuma convened the first meeting on Aug. 15, 1990 in Kyoto, during the session of the ICSS. The meeting was attended by: Zhao Qi-guo, Gong Zi-tong (China-Mainland); Chiu Tsai-Fua, Wang Yin-Po (China, Taiwan); J.S. Kanwar, I.P. Abrol (India); N. Nishizawa, K. Kyuma (Japan); Um Ki-Tae, Jo In-Sang (Korea); Zahari Abu Bakar (Malaysia); Somsri Arunin, Pisoot Vijarnsorn, Tasnee Attanandana, Irb Kheoruenromne, Anchalee Suddhiprakarn (Thailand).
At this meeting, Prof. Kyuma gave a brief explanation on his proposal to establish a regional body of the societies of soil science and related sciences in the countries in South, Southeast and East Asia, as already stated in his letter to every national society. He reported that he had received 6 positive answers by communication from the national societies of China-Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. He then confirmed the positive attitude from the delegates of China-Mainland and India who attended the meeting. Thus, altogether 9 national societies, including Japan, agreed upon to formulate a regional organization.
　　Naming of the regional organization in relation to the regional delineation was discussed and after some discussion “East and Southeast Asia Federation of Soil Science Societies”* was unanimously adopted with an understanding that this regional delineation is justified by the emphasis placed on rice-based cropping systems as an important component of agricultural production system in the region.
　　General Rules of the Federation were drafted during the period of the Kyoto Congress of ISSS and distributed to the delegates of the member countries and they were officially accepted. According to the Rules, the first office was held by the Japanese Society of SSPN for a two-year term, 1990-1992, and Prof. Kyuma became the first President.
　　Later, the national societies of Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam became the members, so the membership covers 12 countries within the region as of July 2005.
* In the first issue of the Newsletter of the Federation, the President proposed an acronym of ESAFS and it was accepted favorably.

Core members shall consist of any scientific societies concerned with soil science, plant nutrition and fertilizer management and technology in any countries in East and Southeast Asia where rice-based cropping system is an important component of agricultural production system.
　　The Federation welcomes the societies which are located outside of the region but interested in the activities of the Federation as the associate members for promoting the objectives of ESAFS together.

The Officers of the Federation shall be:
　(1) President
　(2) First and Second Past Presidents
　(3) Secretary General
　(4) Society Representative
　　The Office of the Federation shall be moved from one member society to another every two years and the President of the society which holds the Office shall be automatically appointed as the President of the Federation.

ESAFS Office, present (June 2005 - 2007)
President: Prof. Makoto Kimura, Nagoya University (kimuram@agr.nagoya-u.ac.jp)
First Past President: Dr. Rogelio N. Concepcion, The Philippines
Second Past President: Prof. Zueng-Sang Chen, Taiwan　
Secretary General: Dr. Shuichi Asanuma, Nagoya University (asanumas@agr.nagoya-u.ac.jp)
Office: Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (JSSSPN)
　　202-10-26, 6-Chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan
　　TEL: +81-3-3815-2085 Fax: +81-3-3815-6018
　　URL http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/jssspn/

Society Presidents:
　Bangladesh：Prof. Dr. S.M. Imamul Haque, Dhaka University
　China：Prof. Dr. Zhao Liang Zhu, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
　India：Dr. G. Narayanasamy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute
　Indonesia：Prof. Dr. Supiandi Sabiham, Bogor Agricultural University
　Japan：Prof. Makoto Kimura, Nagoya University
　Korea：Prof. Ki-Woon Chang, Chungnam National University
　Malaysia：Prof. Dr. Khanif Yusop, University of Putra Malaysia
　The Philippines：Dr. Eduardo P. Paningbatan, University of the Philippines at Los Banos
　Sri Lanka：Mr. G.G.R. De Silva, Irrigation Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development
　Taiwan：Prof. Zueng-Sang Chen, National Taiwan University
　Thailand：Prof. Dr. Sompong Theerawong, Kasetsart University
　Vietnam：Dr. Tran Khai, Vietnam Society of Soil Science

ESAFS Offices in the past
August 1990 - March 1992
　President: Prof. Kazutake Kyuma, Kyoto University
　Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Japan
April 1992 - September 1995
　President: Prof. Quiguo Zhao
　Soil Science Society of China, China
September 1995 - November 1997
　President: Prof. J. Shamshuddin
　Malaysian Society of Soil Science, Malaysia
November 1997 - 1999
　President: Dr. In-Soo Yoo
　The Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer, Korea
1999 - May 2001
　President: Mr. Sompong Theerawong
　Soil and Fertilizer Society of Thailand, Thailand
June 2001 - November 2003
　President: Prof. Zueng-Sang Chen, National Taiwan University
　The Chinese Society of Soil and Fertilizer Sciences, Taiwan
November 2003 - June 2005
　President: Dr. Rogelio N. Concepcion, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Department of Agriculture
　The Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology, The Philippines

　A newsletter shall be published and distributed biannually by the Office of the Federation as a medium to exchange information on research news and activities among the member societies.
　Symposia and workshops shall be sponsored or co-sponsored by the Federation as frequently as possible.
　Member societies shall be encouraged to organize activities under the umbrella of the Federation.

ESAFS Workshops and Conferences in the past
1) The 1st ESAFS International Workshop
“Correlation of the National Soil Classification Systems for Agro-technology Transfer” November 10-15, 1991, Osaka, Japan
Excursion:
[First day] Osaka - Southern Hyogo (Red soils on high terraces; Pedons No.1, No.2, No.3) - Okayama
[Second day] Kojima Bay Polder, Okayama (Empoldered marine clay deposits for 27-277 years; Pedons No.4, No.5, No.6) - Takamatsu, Kagawa
[Third day] Northern Kagawa plain (Alluvial fans of granitic origin; Pedons No.7, No.8 ) - Osaka

pedon1   pedon2   pedon3   pedon4   pedon5   pedon6   pedon7   pedon8   workshop  


2) The 2nd ESAFS International Workshop
“Classification and Management of Desert Soils”
August 21-29, 1993, Urumqi, China


3) The 3rd ESAFS International Conference
“Soil Resource and Sustainable Agriculture for East and Southeast Asia (Soilsafe)” September 12-15, 1995, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia


4) The 4th ESAFS International Conference
“Soil Quality Management and Agro-Ecosystem Health”
November 11-14 (1997), Cheju, Korea


5) The 5th ESAFS International Conference
“Rice Environments and Rice Products”
May 27-31, 2001, Krabi, Thailand


6) The 6th ESAFS International Conference
“Soil Management Technology on Low-productivity and Degraded Soils”
November 24-29, 2003, Taipei, Taiwan
Excursion:
[First day] Taipei - Tou Yuan (Taiwan Tea Experiment Station) - Wu Feng, Taichung (Earthquake Museum and Taiwan Agric. Res. Sta.) - Sun Moon Lake
[Second day] Sun Moon Lake Scenery Park - Yu Chi (Hill Land Tea Plantation) - Tainan (Saline soil areas) - Tho Cheng (Eroded mudstone area) - Tainan City
[Third day] Tainan City - San Di Men, Ping Tung (Taiwan Aboriginal Culture Park) - National Ping Tung University of Science and Technology - Lin Bang (Poorly drained soils for wax apple production) - Kao Hsiung
[Fourth day] Kao Hsiung - Taipei (National Palace Museum)
Highlights of 6th ESAFS  
Minutes of Business Meeting of 6th ESAFS 2003 


7) The 7th ESAFS International Conference
“Sustainability of Paddy Farming Systems”
June 1-5, 2005, Quezon City, The Philippines
Excursion:
[First day] Quezon City - Bacolor, Pampanga (Lahar deposits from Mt. Pinatubo) - Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Maligaya - Central Luzon State University
[Second day] Central Luzon State University - San Jose, Nueva Vizcaya - Banawe Rice Terraces
[Third day] Banawe Rice Terraces - Central Luzon State University (vertic Inceptisol) - Quezon City


ESAFS Newsletters
No.1 (January 1991)
ESAFS General Rules, Report of the 14th Kyoto ICSS, Member Societies’ activities
No.2 (October 1991)
Announcement on the First ESAFS Workshop, Member Societies’ activities
No.3 (December 1991)
Report of the First ESAFS Workshop, Report of the ESAFS Official Meeting, Announcement on International Symposium on Paddy Soils
No.4 (June 1992)
Member Societies’activities
No.5 (December 1992)
Report of the ESAFS Official Meeting, Report of International Symposium on Paddy Soils, Member Societies’ activities
No.6 (December 1993)
Report of ESAFS Excursion to Urumqi, China
No.7 (November 1994)
News about International Symposia held within Asia, New personnel of the Member Societies
No.8 (1996)
Announcement on various conferences
No.9 (December 1998)
Report of the 4th ESAFS Conference, Report of the ESAFS Official Meeting
No.10 (January 2001)
Announcement on the 5th ESAFS Conference and on the 17th WCSS at Bangkok
No.11 (November 2003)
Announcement on the 6th ESAFS Conference, Member Societies’ activities
No.12 (June 2005)
Member Societies’ activities

　The Society Representatives of the member national societies shall meet at the time of symposia or workshops, which shall be held occasionally, to discuss the matters related to the structure, finance and activities of the Federation.

　The national society which holds the Office of the Federation shall finance the publication of the newsletter. The Officers shall make their best effort to raise funds for such activities as symposia and workshops.