The project on South-South Cooperation Exchange between Lao PDR and Brazil was facilitated by FAO and the University of Viçosa (Brazil) in order to improve contract farming operations. Project objectives aimed at supporting policy makers as well as sharing of experiences, knowledge and technical guidance on the design of enabling regulatory frameworks for contract farming.

As part of the activities of the UTF project “Technical Assistance for Strategic Support for Food Security and Nutrition Project in Laos (UTF/LAO/020/LAO)”, FAO supported the Government of Laos in improving contract farming (CF) policy, regulations and contractual design and enforcement. In this regard, a need was identified for expert advice on CF practice, including on issues related to the legal and regulatory framework.

Responding to this identified need, FAO mobilized the know-how and resources of its South- South Cooperation (SSC) program to globally identify a source of expertise that could share experiences on CF issues and help build local capacity on this theme. The Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), in Brazil, which has been collaborating with FAO in the design and implementation of a global capacity building program on operational and legal aspects of CF operations, accepted to provide the required expert advice through a SSC initiative.

Within the scope of the project participants attended a two week study tour in in the region of Minais Gerais, Brazil, in March 2017. On this occasion they were learning through a series of technical visits such as meetings on policies and regulations, visiting apple farms, a hogs raising scheme and coffee farms. Further, a capacity-building workshop on legal and operational aspects of contract farming was held in Lao PDR from the 16^th to 19^th of May 2017.

More information on the FAO South-South Cooperation Exchange between Brazil and Lao PDR can be found by clicking here