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 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

An innovative project promoting sustainable insect farming and harvesting for better nutrition, improved food security and income generation, could provide part of the answer to Laos chronic malnutrition rates and benefit farmers across the country.

The practice of collecting and eating insects goes back thousands of years and today there are said to be around 1,700 edible species worldwide. But the real benefits of insect consumption are only just being realized.

"Insects can provide a good source of protein, fats, carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins and other minerals, this is an essential part of human nutrition,” said Dr Vonglokham Phouvanh, of the Food and Agriculture Organization. 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. 

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