Vientiane, 4 March 2024: ERIA experts visited the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) of Lao PDR to discuss potential collaboration on facilitating the use of climate change and weather forecast modelling applications and training for researchers and policy makers in Lao PDR.

ERIA representatives Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Director for Research Strategy, and Innovations; Masanori Kozono, Senior Policy Fellow; and Siti Mustaqimatud Diyanah, Research Associate met with Chanthakhone Boualaphanh, Director General of NAFRI; Vongvilay Vongkhamsao, Head of Department of Administration and Planning; and Chanpansouk Tanthaphone, Director of Agriculture Research Center to Climate Change Resilient and Rural Economy.

ERIA and NAFRI representatives opened the discussion by introducing their organisations and research activities. ERIA representatives told how it is committed to support the Lao PDR ASEAN Chairmanship 2024 through the development of several priority economic deliverables (PEDs), including the development of an Action Plan for Sustainable Agriculture and the development of ASEAN Guidelines for Crop Burning Reduction. NAFRI, established in 1999, is mandated to undertake integrated agriculture, forestry, and fisheries research to provide technical information, norms and results which help to formulate strategies in accordance with government policies.

The main topic of the discussion was the training plan on climate change and crop modelling as a follow-up request from NAFRI to help academia and policy makers in Lao PDR. NAFRI representative said the GDP of Lao PDR is growing slower due to natural disasters, because the economy is highly dependent on the agriculture sector. The average paddy yield remains low from 2.5 to 3 tons per hectare. Referring to this background, transforming the farming system to be more productive by using crop modelling could be an advantage for farmers.

ERIA is pleased to support NAFRI in this initiative, and agreed to jointly organise a regional workshop engaging global, regional and local experts in modelling to enhance capacity and capability in managing climate-inducted disasters. They also wished to invite some representatives from the ASEAN Member States to join the training and workshop and share best practices in mainstreaming climate change in sectoral planning. Both parties are eager for further collaboration in the future.