With the objective of paying tribute to the native Lao cuisine and encouraging the continued use of edible insects in the Lao diet for improved nutrition and food security, SAEP LAAI LAAI! 2010 is the first major food celebration in Lao PDR that focuses on the use of insects as a main element in local and international cuisines. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will hold the event “SAEP LAAI LAAI! 2010 – A Celebration of the Delicious Lao Insect” on Saturday, the 28th of August, from 4pm to 8pm, at the Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Center (ITECC). Read more   

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched its support to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Planning and Investment in conducting a second Agricultural Census of Lao PDR. Investments in hydropower, mining and industrial crops and plantations have changed land use and reduced the land area and labour available for cultivation and other food production. These changes now need to be captured in another census."To effectively monitor the progress of development in the agricultural sector and to carry out its plans, the Government needs good statistics” says Mr. Serge Verniau, FAO Representative to Lao PDR. Read more

The rainy season that usually starts at the end of May in Lao PDR is this year late and has still not started in parts of the country. “This is of great concern for farmers. Many of them are preparing their nurseries for the third time now and the nurseries are drying up again. Now farmers are reporting that they have no more seeds to restart with which means they would have no crops this year” says Mr. Serge Verniau, the Representative for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to Lao PDR.  Read more

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has last week granted the Faculty of Agriculture of the National University of Laos (NUOL) 26,000 dollars (US) as part of an ongoing FAO project to strengthen the regional capacity to control and prevent so called Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The Faculty will undertake a study to improve the understanding of the cross-border risks related to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The cross-border aspect of the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza remains one of the big challenges in the fight against HPAI. Many studies have revealed that trans-boundary trade has a significant role of in the national supply of poultry and poultry products. Read nore

A one day meeting to discuss the problems related to parasites in fish in Lao PDR was held in Vientiane on 03 December 2009. The invited participants included Department of Livestock and Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, public health personnel and fish farmer representatives. 

The meeting was opened by Dr. Bounkhouang Khamounhouang, Director General, Department of Livestock and Fisheries and Mr. Serge Verniau, Representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to Lao PDR. In the opening remarks the importance of fish and the safety of this source of food in Lao PDR were stressed. 

Read More

Better nutrition can not only be the job of Maf and Moh

A two-day meeting for Director Generals and Deputy Director-Generals from Line Ministries as well as Provincial Heads from the Office of the Permanent Secretary started in Vientiane on 24 November 2009 to improve the multi-sector coordination in food security and nutrition. 

The meeting was opened by H.E. Dr. Maydom Chanthanasinh, Vice President of the National Science Council, Office of the Prime Minister, and Mr. Serge Verniau, Representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to Lao PDR. In his opening remarks Dr. Chanthanasinh stressed that food security and nutrition are cross-cutting issues that require coordination, collaboration and cooperation among all stakeholders. 

Read more