ACIAR consults Lao PDR on key priorities

NAFRI Director-General Dr Bounthong Bouahom, discusses developing improved farming and marketing systems in the rainfed regions of Southern Lao PDR with researcher John Lacy during a visit to Australia. (Photo: D. Gray)

Key agricultural research priorities of Lao PDR for the next five years were discussed at consultations with ACIAR in Vientiane on 18 June 2012.

The country consultations were an opportunity to discuss how ACIAR’s collaborative agricultural research and development program can move forward in line with the Lao Government’s priorities for the agricultural sector.

In the lead up, a number of individual consultation workshops were conducted with key stakeholders in active ACIAR programs across a range of industries and the outcomes were presented at the consultations.

The consultations were attended by the Lao Vice Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, HE Dr Phouang Parisak Pravongviengkham, the Australian Ambassador to Lao PDR, H.E. Lynda Worthaisong, representatives of ACIAR, AusAID, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), National Agriculture and Forestry Extension Service, the National University of Laos and provincial offices.

Policy papers were presented on the agricultural development strategy, NAFRI research priorities, future co-operation with ACIAR and the MONRE plan 2011-15. Indicative priorities on land and water resources, cropping systems and economics, livestock, agricultural systems management, forestry and fisheries were identified.

ACIAR will use these priorities as a framework to develop a collaborative research program in the Lao PDR which is aligned with the Australia-Lao PDR development co-operation strategy.