ຂປລ
The government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO), on August 5 convened a High-Level Policy Dialogue at UN House in Vientiane on bringing youth-led digital innovation into rural development investment.
The dialogue concluded the Youth4Laos Digital Agriculture challenge, which brought together students from Japan, the Republic of Korea and Laos to propose practical digital solutions to problems facing small-scale farming families.Opening the dialogue, Director-General, Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Phakavanh Phitsamy emphasized the significance of engaging youth in shaping the future of agriculture. She pointed out that today's young people are not merely future leaders; they are active innovators with the energy and vision necessary to advance sustainable food systems.Reehana Raza, IFAD Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, said that Youth4Laos could serve as a model for replication elsewhere in the region, and noted the crucial role that young innovators play in agriculture, especially in transforming traditional farming into modern, data-driven agribusinesses.Shairi Mathur, Head of the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in the Lao PDR, echoed the importance of investing in youth as a fundamental aspect of sustainable development. She highlighted the critical role young people play in introducing innovative solutions that ensure climate resilience and sustainability.Enika Basu, the newly appointed IFAD country director for LaoPDR, presented the details of the work IFAD does with youth around the world to equip young women and men with business management, leadership, and technical skills needed to navigate competitive markets.Before Vientiane, the young participants visited farming households in Pholart Village, Chomphet District, and Nasao Village, Luang Prabang District, that work with the IFAD-cofinanced Partnerships for Irrigation and Commercialisation of Smallholder Agriculture (PICSA) Project, to see irrigation, climate-smart agriculture and ICT activities first hand. Students from Seoul National University and the IFAD Youth Club Japan travelled to the villages alongside students from the Faculty of Agriculture of the National University of Laos, learning directly from Lao farmers before presenting their recommendations to a diverse group of participants the following morning, including senior government officials, diplomatic representatives, development partners, and civil society organizations. Youth4Laos aims to catalyze initiatives that actively engage youth in agriculture and food systems, setting the stage for a more sustainable future while aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Socio-Economic Development Plan of Lao PDR.KPL
