“It’s important and necessary to have good policies developed from research evidence to help Lao smallholder farmers overcome agricultural production challenges caused by climate change effects,” said Viraphon Nouanesengsy, Chairperson and Deputy Director General of the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), at an International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Policy Think Tank Stakeholder Meeting in Lao PDR.
The meeting, convened under the Sector Working Group on Agriculture and Rural Development (SWG-ARD) and supported by CGIAR Policy Innovations, strengthened collaboration between NAFRI, IWMI and partner institutions to improve cross-sectoral policy implementation. Participants stressed the need for policies rooted in science to support vulnerable farming communities and to scale practical solutions.
Delegates heard a presentation of the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Strategy to 2035 and Vision to 2050, and welcomed the formal launch of the Policy Research Priority Agenda (PRPA) 2025–2030. Stakeholders endorsed the PRPA as a robust framework and urged joint, cross-sectoral implementation to translate research into policy and action.
By aligning research evidence, coordination and implementation, the meeting aimed to strengthen Laos’ policy ecosystem and advance climate resilient agriculture and rural development. Pakistani policymakers and researchers may find value in the collaborative approach showcased in Lao PDR, particularly for supporting smallholder farmers facing similar climate-driven production challenges.
