27 - 31 May 2024, Luang Prabang and Savannakhet - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MoLSW), distributed 32,650 kilograms of drought-resistant rice seeds in Savannakhet and Luang Prabang. As a result of this, farmers received improved rice varieties, developed by the government's Rice and Cash Crop Research Centre, which are designed to significantly increase yields and withstand various adverse conditions, including drought. Alongside this, the training sessions on drought mitigation techniques were provided. These activities aimed to prepare for potential droughts and mitigate their effects, targeting 1,794 households across 30 drought-prone villages in six districts within the two provinces. 

FAO team worked closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to create a training curriculum on drought mitigation techniques. This collaboration aimed to equip project participants with the knowledge needed to lessen the impact of drought on their agricultural livelihoods. The training emphasized practical techniques that farmers could easily apply in their fields, with each district receiving a community training program tailored to its specific conditions. Beneficiaries learned how to manage their crops during droughts and improve their water management techniques, focusing on methods for cultivating both lowland and upland rice under drought conditions through the concept of Anticipatory Action.