Bangkok, Thailand. From 9 to 13 March, a delegation from Lao PDR attended a series of meetings organized by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, to review the Government’s efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition, and to develop more efficient and sustainable methods of rice production.  

 The Lao PDR delegation participated in a regional workshop on the FAO “Regional Rice Initiative” to review progress to date and future workplans for 2015 on supporting new strategies and sustainable practices for improved rice production. Since 2013, the country has benefited from capacity development support on developing a national strategy and in developing sustainable agronomic practices. Lao PDR also participated in a workshop on FAO’s “Regional Initiative to Support the Zero Hunger Challenge (ZHC) in Asia and the Pacific”, to review progress to develop national strategy, address child stunting, and measure the status of food security and nutrition.  The Lao delegations shared experiences and built common understandings with representatives from Indonesia and the Philippines for the Regional Rice Initiative, and from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Timor-Leste, for the Regional Initiative on the ZHC.

 In addition to the above workshops, Mr. Konuma, FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative to Asia and the Pacific, met Dr. Phouang Parisak Pravongviengkham, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Lao PDR, on March 13 to analyse the Government programmes in Lao PDR that address the areas of action under the Zero Hunger Challenge established by the UN Regional Thematic Working Group on Poverty and Hunger in Asia and the Pacific.  The possibility of holding an official launch event for the Zero Hunger Challenge in Lao PDR was also discussed.

Learn more about the Asia and the Pacific’s Zero Hunger Challenge

Learn more about the Asia and the Pacific's Regional Rice Initiative.

Access the Photo Story of the Lao Delegation's participation in the regional workshops held at FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific