(KPL) The Office of Agriculture and Forestry of the Province of Xieng Khuang, in partnership withthe French Embassy in Laos, the French research organization Cirad, and the French NGO of international solidarity GRET, held a workshop on March 16 in Xieng Khuang to develop synergies between the many agricultural development projects implemented in the northern province.

This workshop brought together officials from the Province and the different districts of Xieng Khuang, members of the six associations of Xieng Khuang and Huaphan that implement sustainable agricultural development projects funded by the PISCCA programme (Innovative

Projects of Civil Societies and Stakeholder Coalitions) of the French Embassy, and the different actors of the ASSET project (Agro-ecological and Safe Food System Transitions)financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union (EU), and the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM).

The participants discussed their experience and identified convergences in order to create synergies between the many projects related to sustainable agriculture in the province.

Sustainable agriculture is a priority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and is included in the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan of the Lao PDR. The French and European co-operations bring their full support to the projects implemented in this framework because they are part of an inclusive and sustainable approach. Sustainable agriculture was the focus of an important field mission last January involving six European heads of mission (European Union, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Switzerland) in the provinces of Xieng Khuang and Huaphan.

KPL