FAO.org

In Friday 1^st of March 2019, a workshop was organized in Thalat by the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE). There were nearly 50 representatives from various sectors such as the Provincial of Natural Resources and Environment (PONRE), District of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE), the Water Resource Division and the Meteorology Division at provincial and district levels, which were from different regions including Khong and Pakse districts in Champasak province, Laongam district in Saravan province, Champhone district in Savannakhet province, Anouvong district in Xaisomboun province , Pek  district in XiengKhoung province, Kham and Phonehong districts in Vientiane Province. Also, in Wednesday 6^th of March 2019, this workshop was organized, which included nearly 60 participants from Pheing and XeingHone districts in Xayabouly province, XiengNguen district in Luang Prabang province, Houn district in Oudoumxay province, Sing  and Namtha district in LuangNamtha province, Hauysai and TonPheung Districts in Borkeo province. In this workshop, the Provincial of Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO) and the District of Agriculture and Forestry Office (DAFO) were invited to be informed about the project activities, and to discuss their respective role and responsibilities after the new agro-meteorology system will be installed and functional.

In addition, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) had explained that the “Strengthening Agro-climatic Monitoring and Information Systems (SAMIS) project and The Climatology and Agro-Meteorology Division (CAgMD) is developing the online system and mobile phone app  to distribute weather and crop information to farmers every week that will be called Laos Climate Service for Agriculture (LaCSA). This app will enable farmers to increase crop security and to have more stable production in the face of climate vagaries. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is contributing to the distribution of information to farmers at local level. This will bring agricultural innovation at the farmer scales and help their decision making in face of climate change. The workshop also discussed the roles and responsibilities of these offices in the forthcoming activities.