Direct beneficiaries are:

• Upland farmers (4’000 Households - HH) and Farmers’ Organisations (over 300 - FOs)
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)
• Agribusiness companies
• The National Agriculture & Forestry Colleges (AFC) supported by SDC’s SURAFCO project; and schools 

Indirect beneficiaries are:

• Neighboring upland communities
• Private sector - individuals and companies involved in agriculture value chains
• Relevant Government of Laos (GoL) bodies (ministries and line agencies, research institutes, platforms)
• General public and young generation
• Civil society, non-government agencies and stakeholders involved in sustainable farming systems

Outcome 1: Healthy and sustainable farming systems in the uplands

Outcome 2: Market systems in rural areas that are fair and profitable

Outcome 3: Extension services are relevant for disadvantaged social groups

Outcome 4: Knowledge systems support green farming and agribusiness

Principaux résultats attendus:  

• Capacity has been built for the implementation of Green Extension, including expansion of knowledge and skills.
• Proactive extension services have been delivered: promoting a transition towards more sustainable farming systems.
• Reactive extension services have been delivered: promoting measures to mitigate negative impacts of current farming systems.
• The effectiveness of farmer organizations in the target provinces has been significantly improved, including strengthening manage­ment, networking and access to productive resources.
• The issue of rural employment is integrated into rural advisory services, particularly the need to create opportunities for rural youth to get decent jobs in agribusiness.
• Women’s engagement in agricultural extension has been significantly improved, both as service providers and clients, by providing supplementary training and incentives for female staff who will implement field activities with women’s groups.
• New information systems have been established to bring knowledge to and from rural areas, giving greater voice and choice to field workers and farmers.
• Decision makers and policy makers in the agriculture sector have access to information and platforms for dialogue.

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

• 5,000 households have received services on value chain development (wild tea, cardamom, organic vegetables, small livestock, coffee, indigenous rice).
• A tea value chain has been developed with the private sector and smallholders.
• An awareness-raising campaign “Detox” has been carried out on the misuse of pesticides.
• A scheme targeting the youth in agriculture and promoting innovative business ideas was successfully implemented.
• The MAF gender equality strategy from 2016-2025 and vision 2030 has been disseminated.
• The “Voluntary Commitments for Responsible Agribusiness in Lao PDR” have been produced.
• The support to the Lao Farmers’ Network allowed the expansion of the number of member organizations from 16 to 23.
• LaoFAB on-line information service celebrated 10 years of operation (over 4’500 members, 2,650 documents in online repository)

Phase 2 01.12.2017 - 30.11.2021   (Active)