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• Part A – Introduction and overview
• Part B – Alignment with the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture
• Section 5.1: Sustainable resources and ecosystem management
• Section 5.2: Integration of aquaculture with agriculture and other sectors
• Section 5.3: Conservation of aquatic biodiversity, genetic resource management and sustainable seed supply
• Section 5.4: Sustainable feed
• Section 5.6: Strategies to address climate change, natural disasters, pollution and pandemics.

IAA systems make more nutritious foods available by diversifying production. By integrating fish into rice cultivation, small-scale farmers and their households gain access to a steady source of high-quality protein and essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin A, which are crucial for child development and overall health. This approach improves food security and dietary diversity, reduces malnutrition among children and pregnant women, and mitigates the impact of crop failures by reducing reliance on single crops.

IAA systems build resilience by creating more stable and diversified farming systems. These practices help communities adapt to climate change by reducing the risk of flooding and ensuring continuous food production even during adverse weather events. They can also act as natural water management systems, storing water during dry periods and controlling water flow during heavy rains, in line with Integrated Water Resource Management principles.

Additionally, integrated systems can reduce small-scale farmers' vulnerability to market fluctuations and environmental stresses by providing multiple sources of food and income. This diversification is crucial to build long-term resilience in rural communities, enabling them to withstand and recover from shocks more effectively.

Chapter 5: Sustainable resource use, ecosystem, and farm management

This section provides examples of how the promotion of IAA in the Lao People's Democratic Republic aligns with relevant guidelines in Chapter 5 of the GSA. The examples draw on DLF experience in promoting IAA with FAO support from 2013 to 2024.

5.1 Sustainable resources and ecosystem management

The GSA say: Aquaculture is reliant on the services provided by our ecosystems, which are impacted by human activities. It is important to ensure that aquaculture development does not have negative effects on the wider ecosystem by exceeding the environmental carrying capacity. Aquaculture can help restore ecosystems and provide valuable services, so practices that promote sustainability should be prioritized. To ensure long-term conservation and sustainable use of resources, everyone involved in managing land and water resources for aquaculture should take measures to protect them.

Under 5.1.1, the GSA recommend that states should: “Develop and implement national or regional strategies for sustainable use of water, land, genetic resources and energy that address the needs and challenges of the aquaculture sector. Strategies should emphasize efficient water use and recirculation of water and facilitate nutrient recovery and reuse to reduce the carbon footprint of aquaculture and integrate it into nutrition sensitive, circular, and sustainable food systems.”

What has been done: With support from FAO, aquaculture development in the Lao People's Democratic Republic has focused on the promotion of IAA farming practices that are particularly relevant to small-scale rice farmers in remote rural areas. By adopting this strategy, the DLF has made significant contributions to wider (ministerial level) government policies and developmental priorities that aim to reduce poverty and improve food security and nutrition. The promotion of IAA helps farmers make more efficient use of their available on-farm resources (including land and water) and develop more sustainable and resilient food systems.

Under 5.1.2, the GSA recommend that states should: “Conserve, protect, enhance, and restore aquatic ecosystems, their services, and their biodiversity, water, and soil resources, while preventing pollution of land, water, and the sea.”

What has been done: Promoting rice-fish culture helps farmers reduce their use of agricultural chemicals and regenerate natural ecosystem services in their rice fields. The small refuges constructed for fish in rice fields help farmers to conserve water, while fish both aerate the soil and promote rice tillering.

Under 5.1.3, the GSA recommend that states should: “Reduce the environmental and carbon footprints of aquaculture by applying sustainable practices throughout production, processing, transportation, storage, and feed manufacturing, including decreasing the use of veterinary medicines.”

What has been done: Integrating the promotion of aquaculture into other farming practices helps farmers optimize their on-farm resources and the natural productivity of their rice fields. Integrated aquaculture is particularly attractive to small-scale subsistence farming families who directly consume the fish they produce or sell the fish locally. Its promotion helps farmers to localize the production of healthy food and reduce their carbon and environmental footprint.

Under 5.1.4, the GSA recommend that states should: “Apply the concepts of environmental and social carrying capacity in aquaculture planning, use environmental impact assessment as appropriate, and monitor aquaculture operations to prevent and minimize environmental risks.”

What has been done: IAA enables farmers to make better use of their land and other existing resources. Introducing fish into rice fields helps them to produce more nutritious food on the same amount of land and using the same water. The prospect of an additional fish harvest leads rice farmers to spend more time in their fields, cultivating other crops such as vegetables and fruits.

Under 5.1.5, the GSA recommend that states should: “Promote low-trophic aquaculture species such as filter-feeding finfish, algae/seaweeds and bivalve mollusks that are properly managed to provide ecosystem services and reduce negative impacts on surrounding ecosystems.”

What has been done: The promotion of rice-fish culture in the Lao People's Democratic Republic has prioritized the culture of low-trophic fish species such as tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus), which require limited aquafeed. These species thrive in ricefield ecosystems and boost the production of rice. The introduction of fish helps farmers reduce their use of agricultural chemicals such as herbicides, as the fish consume newly grown weeds.

Under 5.1.6, the GSA recommend that states should: “Promote aquaculture systems that provide habitat and refuge for both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, where appropriate.”

What has been done: The introduction of aquaculture into rice-based farming systems often requires farmers to adjust their rice fields, such as the construction of trenches or sump ponds. These modifications create a more diverse habitat, allowing farmers to cultivate aquatic animals, vegetables, fruits, and rice. Furthermore, negative impacts on biodiversity from agrochemicals is reduced.

Under 5.1.7, the GSA recommend that states should: “Encourage energy efficiency and the use of clean and renewable energies.”

What has been done: After integrating aquaculture into their farming systems, many small-scale farmers spend more time in their rice fields and devise additional strategies to intensify their food production using their existing land and water resources. They will often grow additional vegetables and fruits and frequently install small solar-powered irrigation systems which are now relatively inexpensive and widely available in remote rural areas.

Under 5.1.8, the GSA recommend that states should: “Promote the recirculation of water and co-products in the feeding process.”

What has been done: Introducing fish culture in rice field environments helps subsistence farmers make better use of their available land and water and to recycle resources more effectively, such as livestock manure and household organic wastes. It also enables farmers to better manage and conserve water in their fields so that enough water is retained for both their rice and fish crops.

Under 5.1.9, the GSA recommend that states should: “Develop waste management systems that minimize the environmental footprint of aquaculture activities.”

What has been done: Promoting the integration of aquaculture into other farming systems enables subsistence farmers to recycle resources and agricultural waste. The promotion of rice-fish culture using low-trophic species helps farmers use their existing land and water resources more effectively and regenerate soils and natural aquatic ecosystems.

Under 5.1.10, the GSA recommend that states should: “Develop and disseminate guidance that addresses BMPs for the management and use of aquaculture resources, supported by regular and targeted training.”

What has been done: The promotion of IAA has been led by national and local government authorities with support from FAO. Promotional leaflets, posters, videos and social media posts have been co-created by local government agricultural extension officers in partnership with farming communities to ensure their relevance and appropriateness. These include guidelines on best practices and have been supported by a series of capacity building activities that focus on promoting farmer-led learning and experimentation.

Under 5.1.11, the GSA recommend that states should: “Promote sustainable intensification of aquaculture and farm management by improving farm design and infrastructure, adopting up-to-date technologies at scale, promoting digitalization, on-farm recirculation and treatment of waste, using physical, biological, and responsible chemical methods, and monitoring and recycling “waste-streams” or underutilized aquaculture nutrients through regenerative, multi-trophic, and integrated aquaculture systems.”

What has been done: The farming sector in the Lao People's Democratic Republic is dominated by small-scale, mainly subsistence family farmers, who currently face challenges relating to food security, health, climate change and environmental degradation. They want to intensify their farming systems and at the same time, regenerate natural ecosystems which they see as the basis for sustainable livelihoods. Rice cultivation is central to many of these farms and the promotion of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture helps poor farming families to take the first step in a process of gradual and sustainable intensification, while also regenerating soils and natural habitats.

Under 5.1.12, the GSA recommend that states should: “Expand aquaculture in locations where it is feasible and has potential for sustainable development. Assess social and economic viability, adopt appropriate environmental precautions and social safeguards, and ensure aquaculture expansion is responsible, exists within the environmental carrying capacity, and does not negatively affect biodiversity, ecosystems, or livelihoods.”

What has been done: Sites selected by government authorities to promote IAA included Poverty Reduction Focal Areas identified as priorities under national agricultural development strategies formulated with the support of international development partners (e.g. UNDP, FAO, WFP). More recently, the promotion of IAA (e.g. rice-fish) has been identified as a strategy to accelerate food systems transformation in the Lao People's Democratic Republic as it can be readily promoted at scale (it is based on traditional practices), increases the local supply of nutritious and healthy food, increases farm biodiversity, improves soils, reduces dependency on agricultural chemicals and regenerates aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Under 5.1.13, the GSA recommend that states should: “Set an appropriate balance between species diversification and concentration on key species, that best meets market demands and responds to the drivers of species use and adopt farm production and management schedules that align with market requirements and are responsive to environmental constraints.”

What has been done: Recommendations on choice of species for the promotion of IAA in the Lao People's Democratic Republic focus on low trophic fish (tilapia, common carp and silver barb), that thrive in rice field conditions, are popular with families for domestic consumption and can be bred easily. Fish seed supply is still a major constraint to aquaculture development and farmers value fish species that they can breed locally.

Under 5.1.14, the GSA recommend that states should: “Prevent and/or mitigate litter from aquaculture gear.”

What has been done: An important driver for the adoption of IAA by small-scale farmers in the Lao People's Democratic Republic is that it reduces the time farming families spend fishing and foraging. This in turn relieves pressure on dwindling capture fisheries and significantly reduces the use of monofilament gill nets and fish traps made from plastic netting, commonly used by small-scale fishers.

5.2 Integration of aquaculture with agriculture and other sectors

The GSA say: Aquaculture can work together with agriculture and other sectors to improve efficiency and sustainability by using innovative management systems and production practices. In coastal areas, integration of aquaculture with tourism or energy sectors can deliver important synergies, and in inland areas its integration into local and small-scale farming systems can be a catalyst especially for poor communities to address the wider challenges of improving food and nutrition security, increasing farm biodiversity and building resilience to climate change.

Integration will lead to better use of resources, such as fisheries, water, land and forests, and restore ecosystem services and functions. By planning and making decisions together, we can manage our natural and human resources more effectively and meet the diverse needs of society in the short, medium, and long term. This approach will optimize the sustainable use of resources by addressing the complex linkages among different resource users.

Under 5.2.1, the GSA recommend that states should: “Promote the integration of aquaculture with agriculture and other sectors by preparing and implementing supportive national policies, regulations and legislation.”

What has been done: Aquaculture is often seen by national policymakers and international development partners as a highly technical farming practice that requires considerable initial investment (e.g. the construction of a pond). It is generally considered unsuitable for promotion among small-scale, subsistence farming families (who make up the majority of farmers in the Lao People's Democratic Republic) and is often overlooked as a food production strategy. Communicating and promoting aquaculture as a practice that can be integrated into other farming systems and requires little additional investment (e.g. rice-fish) can facilitate its inclusion in national policies, regulations and legislation when it would otherwise be overlooked or excluded.

Under 5.2.2, the GSA recommend that states should: “Encourage diversification of food production and income by integrating aquaculture with other systems, such as combined rice and fish farming, aquaponics, and other integrated farming practices. This will enhance sustainability, productivity, efficiency, and resilience of people, communities, and ecosystems.”

What has been done: Aquaculture in the Lao People's Democratic Republic is widely promoted as an integrated farming practice. IAA (e.g. rice-fish) is seen by farmers and local agricultural extension workers as a practice that enhances sustainability, productivity, efficiency, and the resilience of people, communities and ecosystems. This understanding is intuitive at the community and farmer level, and has been supported at the policy-maker level through a series of carefully crafted promotional materials developed by the DLF in partnership with FAO over more than a decade of collaboration.

Under 5.2.3, the GSA recommend that states should: “Support research and innovation partnerships that promote integrated agriculture-aquaculture farming systems involving multiple stakeholders.”

What has been done: The Farmer Promotion Trials are based on a multi-stakeholder process developed by the DLF with FAO support to develop and promote farmer-driven field research into IAA practices. The details of the process were developed gradually over a five-year period in collaboration with farmers and local-level agricultural extension workers. The process is designed to operate within the institutional environment of agricultural extension and development in the Lao People's Democratic Republic and is not dependent on the support of international development partners.

Under 5.2.4, the GSA recommend that states should: “Promote the integration of aquaculture with fisheries through culture-based fisheries and stock enhancement, especially in seasonal water bodies, while preserving ecosystems and biodiversity.”

What has been done: Rice-fish cultivation in the Lao People's Democratic Republic is promoted as a strategy that augments stocks for capture fisheries. Farmers generally value this approach as most rural communities see capture fisheries as a key component of their livelihood resilience. Promoting strategies that augment wild fish stocks has enabled rural communities to implement more ambitious development activities that address wider issues such as watershed management and fisheries conservation initiatives such as the protection of spawning grounds.

Under 5.2.5, the GSA recommend that states should: “Recognize aquaculture’s role in the social and biophysical interlinkages of food and ecosystems and strengthen the application of participatory processes such as the EAA as a strategy for aquaculture’s further integration.”

What has been done: Highlighting the role aquaculture can play in restoring and regenerating natural aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (e.g. through organic vegetable production), has helped to promote the inclusion of aquaculture in national and provincial development strategies. The introduction of aquaculture into rice fields to reduce reliance on chemical herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers makes it an attractive strategy for many small-scale farmers concerned about ecosystem degradation and family health. In some cases, the additional benefit of producing a fish harvest for household consumption is secondary to the regenerative and ecological benefits of introducing aquaculture into the farming environment.

Under 5.2.6, the GSA recommend that states should: “Develop and promote innovative technologies for nutrient recycling and monitoring from aquaculture effluent to ensure safe re-use within the ecosystem through integrated and circular economy approaches.”

What has been done: Integrating aquaculture into small-scale rice farming has encouraged farmers to make better use of animal manure. While manure is not often wasted on small-scale farms, the benefits of collecting and strategically using it are not generally considered. The promotion of rice-fish culture in the Lao People's Democratic Republic encourages farmers to apply cattle manure to their rice fields to the benefit of both the rice and the fish. This recommendation was adopted widely and helped many farmers take the first step in a transition to organic rice farming practices.

5.3 Conservation of aquatic biodiversity, genetic resource management and sustainable seed supply

The GSA say: Sustainable aquaculture development requires effective management of genetic resources for both wild stocks (for conservation and as a resource for aquaculture) and for farmed types used in aquaculture. Effective management of aquatic genetic resources for food and agriculture (AqGR) should be informed by robust data on the national, regional, and global status of AqGR which should also help ensure that AqGR will be represented in the future developments and monitoring of the status of global biodiversity within international instruments such as the SDGs and the UN Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

There is huge potential to enhance productivity of domesticated farmed types through improved genetic management within aquaculture seed supply systems and the accelerated uptake of genetic improvement, with a focus on selective breeding. A prudential approach based on a risk assessment as outlined in the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development for Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture should be followed.

Conservation of aquatic biodiversity, including management of aquaculture’s impact on this diversity, is of critical importance to the future sustainable development of aquaculture. It is thus important to apply risk assessment to introductions and transfers, especially for non-native species and developed farm types, and recognize and monitor species, wild stocks and farmed types under threat, and promote their effective conservation. The introduction of non-native species for the purposes of aquaculture should be subject to prior authorization based on this risk assessment.

Under 5.3.2.1, the GSA recommend that states should: “Develop national policies or strategies for seed supply to ensure a consistent supply of quality seed to meet producer demand. Such strategies should consider the role of infrastructure development, such as establishment of breeding nuclei as a source of quality broodstock and decentralization of seed multiplication and promote credible seed certification schemes.”

What has been done: A component of FAO support to the development and promotion of IAA in the Lao People's Democratic Republic was assistance to draft a Strategic Development Plan for the fisheries and aquaculture sector (2017). The Plan developed by DLF recognized the lack of a reliable fish seed supply as a key constraint to the development of aquaculture and prioritized the decentralized production of fish seed. Existing provincial and national fish seed production centres were designated as breeding nuclei of quality broodstock.

Subsequent efforts by the DLF to promote IAA with FAO support have further promoted decentralized fish seed production and encouraged farmers (through the Farmer Trial Promotion process), to experiment with small-scale on-farm fish breeding and multiplication techniques. Farmer fish seed production networks have been established in the southern part of the country (producing mainly tilapia and common carp) and these have been instrumental in the wider promotion of IAA. The lack of fish seed supply remains a major constraint to IAA promotion in the northern part of the country, but recent efforts to promote small-scale seed production by facilitating exchange visits with farmers in other areas could be a possible way forward.

Under 5.3.2.4, the GSA recommend that states should: “Recognize the respective roles of the public and private sectors in seed supply systems, especially in the case of genetic improvement programmes. Such programmes are necessarily long term and public sector programmes should look to build in options for transition to the private sector to ensure that programmes have long-term sustainability based on elements of cost recovery.”

What has been done: To align with national strategies on poverty reduction and improving food security and nutrition, the promotion of IAA in the Lao People's Democratic Republic has focused on poor communities and developing the capacity of small-scale farmers to produce small quantities of fish seed for local sale or exchange. While both provincial government fish seed production centres and private sector entrepreneurs require technical and managerial assistance, development efforts by DLF/FAO have focused strategically on small-scale individual farming families and poor communities. This focus was considered the most effective way to maximize the benefits of often limited resources and stretched government capacity.

5.4 Sustainable feed

The GSA say: Fed aquaculture species represent around half of total aquaculture production and their farming is projected to expand to meet the increasing demand for aquatic foods. Scientific and technological advances in feed formulation and processing have been part of the recent evolution of aquaculture.

The sustainability of fed aquaculture requires practices and systems that improve productivity while reducing costs and feed waste, as well as ensuring sustainable sourcing of ingredients and preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity. Diversifying ingredient sources is fundamental to ensure availability and access. Developing ingredient alternatives, feed formulations and processing capacity can guarantee the expansion of aquaculture in distinct regions. Improving feed management practices is paramount for the sustainable intensification of aquaculture, allowing greater efficiency.

Under 5.4.2, the GSA recommend that states should: “Promote the development and use of sustainably sourced ingredients (from all sources) in feed formulations, striving to achieve affordable, safe and healthy feeds and encouraging an increase in feed performance and reduction in environmental impact.”

What has been done: Alignment with national priorities to alleviate poverty and improve food security has meant that IAA promotion in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (e.g. rice-fish) focuses on low-cost aquaculture practices that utilize low-trophic fish species (tilapia, common carp and silver barb). Farmers are encouraged to use on-farm inputs such as livestock manure to generate primary productivity (e.g. algae and bacteria) and regenerate natural ecosystems. The production of this “natural food” is the basis for IAA, with traditional feeds (e.g. rice bran, commercial fish feed) only being used occasionally as a supplement. Farmers are also encouraged to use household food scraps although many farmers choose to feed chickens or pigs rather than fish with this valuable resource. Low stocking densities ensure that farmers produce a reasonable crop of edible fish with these limited resources. Choosing to promote more intensive aquaculture systems that utilize commercial fish feeds or feeds prepared on-farm is generally beyond the scope of most poor small-scale farmers, who cannot afford the associated investment and financial risk. In addition, many farmers see aquaculture as a tool to restore rice field ecosystems and prefer low-input, low-risk strategies.

5.6 Strategies to address climate change, natural disasters, pollution and pandemics.

The GSA say: Climate resilient aquaculture and disaster risk reduction must be built on policies, strategies and plans developed in full and effective consultation with all aquaculture stakeholders, in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the FAO Strategy on Climate Change. The main natural and climate hazards can be identified through risk and vulnerability assessment.

It is necessary to encourage the transition towards more climate resilient practices in aquaculture, notably for decarbonizing aquaculture to supply low-carbon and nutrition-sensitive diets. At the same time, the climate mitigation potential of certain types of aquaculture, where proven, should be enhanced (e.g. carbon sequestration by algae or mollusc farming). The contribution of aquaculture, including extensive practices, to the protection and restoration of marine, coastal and inland ecosystems in response to climate change impacts such as sea level rise or floods, should also be promoted.

Under 5.6.1, the GSA recommend that states should: “Develop and implement policies and strategies that ensure that the role of aquaculture in adaptation to and mitigation of climate change are addressed in international instruments such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).”

What has been done: Rural development interventions in the Lao People's Democratic Republic to help poor communities adapt to climate change have largely been driven by the Ministry of Environment. This Ministry is the focal point for international development partner dialogue on NAP’s and other climate change related projects. Effective liaison and coordination between this Ministry and agricultural development staff, particularly at provincial and district levels, has been challenging and led to poor understanding of climate change related issues and the development of effective adaptation strategies in the agricultural sector.

With FAO support, the DLF has been able to help the Lao Government address these challenges by systematically building awareness and understanding of climate change and the need to work with farmers to develop adaptation strategies. Recent severe flooding and drought in northern parts of the country has highlighted the importance of this work and community-level agricultural extension workers are now much more confident in addressing climate change adaptation. Simply “explaining the issue” in non-technical terms and providing an opportunity for farming communities to develop and test their own IAA climate adaptation practices, has considerably advanced climate change adaptation and improved food security. Focusing on IAA adaptation practices allows communities to simultaneously address the challenges of drought, flooding, and food security.

Under 5.6.2, the GSA recommend that states should: “Recognize and proactively promote emerging opportunities for aquaculture arising from climate change due to the diversity of farmed types and culture systems available to the farmers.”

What has been done: Using the process of Farmer Promotion Trials developed by the DLF with support from FAO, 100 farming households in three provinces were given the opportunity to develop and test their own IAA climate change adaptation strategies. Recent severe drought and flooding in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (2023) were a strong motivation for farmers to participate in these Trials.

Under 5.6.3, the GSA recommend that states should: “Provide adaptation and mitigation strategies, and recovery and aid plans for aquaculture dependent communities affected by climate change and other disaster risks along with necessary assistance and support, in collaboration with the private sector and other partners.”

What has been done: Over 2 000 farming households in the Muang La district of Oudomxay province were affected by severe flooding in 2023. FAO provided emergency support to some of the most severely impacted families to help them re-build their rice fields and re-establish rice-fish culture. The support was coordinated by local government authorities and the DLF. Local construction companies were engaged to assist with clearing rubble and re-constructing rice fields. The initiative was highly effective in restoring the livelihoods of many poor farming families and demonstrates that even in remote rural areas, capacity exists to respond to emergency situations and restore aquaculture practices.

Under 5.6.6, the GSA recommend that states should: “Strengthen climate change and disaster preparedness that involves contingency plans, coordination arrangements, public information and training, including: applying risk analysis for aquaculture planning and management; assessing sector vulnerabilities; implementing risk reduction and adaptation strategies, investing in monitoring and early warning systems; maintaining reserves of feed and equipment; promoting technologies and systems that increase the adaptive capacity of aquaculture; and building institutional capacity and support related training and technical assistance to producers to support climate resilient aquaculture practices.”

What has been done: In general, attempts to enhance community understanding of climate change at the farmer level in the Lao People's Democratic Republic have been unsuccessful and local agricultural development workers largely attribute these failures to a lack of local context in the communication efforts. Community-level dialogues often suffer from a "top-down" approach, focusing more on academic definitions rather than practical solutions. To address these concerns, the DLF with FAO support undertook a series of district and community consultations on climate change. The new approach emphasizes intuitive "conversations" between local and national development officers and individual farming families or small informal farmer groups. The agenda for these conversations no longer includes academic definitions but instead encourages a "free flowing" discussion. The starting point of the discussion is the current weather events that everyone is experiencing. The goal is to explore how farmers can adapt their water management, natural fishery, and aquaculture practices to enhance food production security, and through this dialogue gain a better understanding of climate change. The changes aimed to foster more effective and engaging interactions with the farming community, focusing on practical solutions and incorporating the local context into the dialogue.

In organizing the climate change dialogue in this way, central and local level government staff made a commitment to talk directly to almost every farming family participating in this project (in 26 villages). The conversation included an exploration of low-cost and locally appropriate adaptation practices that were then tested and developed in Farmer Promotion Trials.

Under 5.6.9, the GSA recommend that states should: “Develop and adopt improved farming systems that have greater adaptive capacity, enhancing resilience of the sector in response to climate change.”

What has been done: The DLF with FAO support has developed consensus on five key issues relating to the development of improved farming systems for climate change adaptation.

• Local ownership and self-determination of the Farmer Promotion Trial process is an important aspect. Farming families together with the wider rural community should determine the focus of the Trials (what they want to test) and the process of testing, in consultation with District staff and community representatives.
• The Promotion Trials should focus on integrating farming activities and making food production more resilient to climate change. Testing ways to farm rice and fish together is one option, but there are others which should be explored during farmer recruitment.
• In each target area (district/community) the Farmer Promotion Trials should clearly contribute towards existing development plans and priorities. It is important these trials contribute towards wider development goals and that both local agricultural extension officers and farmers promote more integrated farming system adoption for climate change adaption as part of a wider dialogue on building community resilience and reducing poverty.
• It is important to communicate that although this intervention is an agricultural extension activity, it is not just focused on increasing food production. The main aim is to make rural communities more resilient to the effects of climate change and the trials should include testing ways to restore natural processes and ecosystems and conserve/increase agricultural biodiversity.
• The process of farmer recruitment for the trials included technical advice and guidance on rice-fish integration, but it is important farmers are encouraged to test alternative strategies such as enhancing refuges for aquatic animals, conserving wild aquatic animals and plants and enhancing the recruitment or abundance of aquatic animals and plants in rice field environment