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FAO with the SAMIS project has produced the climate scenario at 20, 50 and 100 years for Lao PDR. Also, the Agro-Ecological Zoning (AEZ) Suitability and Yield maps for the six major crops of Lao PDR at present time, and at 20, 50 and 100 years have been produced. The AEZ method use soil, climate and cropping system data to simulate suitability, harvested areas and yield in present time, and in future scenarios. This work is done by the Department of Agricultural Land Management (DALAM) with the guidance of the Asian Institute of Technology, AIT.

It is under this project that FAO, CCAFS and Utrecht University collaborated to design and implement the first advanced training on foresight and anticipatory governance in Lao PDR. In 2021, four “story map” were developed for Cassava, Maize, Banana and Coffee by the National Agricultural Research Centre (NAFRI) and DALAM. The crops production system is analysed using the output of the SAMIS AEZ future crop suitability maps and multiple foresight analysis tools. All elements of the crops value chain are identified, as well as current and future risks and opportunities. Based on these analyses, policy recommendations containing proposed actions and strategies are elaborated in the form of a pathway action plan. This is done to ensure an effective implementation of the Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) 2025 and the vision of the agriculture sector to the year 2030. With the support of the Department of Planning and Cooperation and of its Policy Team, the storymaps were introduced to local stakeholders and the validity of the proposed recommendations tested in the local production areas.

Local level expert meetings are being held in Saravan and Pakse this week. The experts are divided in three groups: farmers, stakeholders, and government officials. This experts meetings aims at (1) introducing the banana and coffee storymaps (2) Discussing the recommendations and pathways (3) Identify synergies to implement those recommendations. This activity is a follow up of the previous consultations held on Boulikamsai and Xieng Kuang about cassava and maize.