PTT/PRC, NAFRI

SUPPORTED BY FAO

WHITE PAPER ON FOOD SECURITY AND

NUTRITION IN LAOS

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

1. Introduction

2. Objectives of the White Paper

3. Process for formulation of the White Paper

4. Current status of food security and nutrition in Laos

5. Review of policies/strategies related to food security and nutrition in Laos

6. Trends and challenges

7. Suggested solutions

8. Implementation and coordination

9. Uses of the White Paper

INTRODUCTION

• MAF formulated several policy/strategy (i.e. Agricultural Development Strategy 2025-Vision 2030, National Rice Policy for Food Security, Livestock Policy for Food Security and Commercialization) but focus mainly on production to ensure food security

• Limited scope on vision for the Agriculture and Forestry Sector on how it can contribute to Nutrition beyond food production

• Food security and nutrition is a challenging task for Laos, requiring coordination and cooperation from other sectors (not only MAF)

OBJECTIVES OF THE WHITE PAPER

• To provide policy options and suggested solutions to enhance the role of the agriculture and forestry sector to improve food security and nutrition in Laos

• To clarify the boundaries of MAF’s responsibilities (What falls within MAF’s mandate as lead sector?, What lies outside MAF’s mandate?, and co-responsibility/shared responsibility)

• To identify the concrete roles and contribution of MAF’s technical departments and the sub-sector within the agriculture and forestry sector on food security and nutrition in Laos

PROCESS FOR FORMULATION OF THE WHITE PAPER

Working sessions

Initial technical

consultation workshop

Planning tools

workshop on food security

and nutrition

Regional consultation workshop

SWG-ARD meeting

Final technical

consultation workshop

Review, synthesis, & consultation

4 pillars of food security Convergent approach

Tremendous achievements in agricultural production (rice, food crops, and livestock and fishery)

CURRENT STATUS OF FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION IN LAOS

BUT nutrition has improved marginally

Large animal(x10,000 head)

Small animal(x10,000 head)

GAPS/ISSUES - REVIEW OF KEY POLICIES/STRATEGIES RELATED TO FOOD SECURITY & NUTRITION IN LAOS

• Planning in agriculture sector has not taken account nutrition

• Coordination and implementation of FSN at the local/grass root levels is not clearly defined and mainstreamed in the district plans

• Lack of policy supporting other priority crops (currently only rice), in particular high-value and nutrient-rich crops

• Networks in promoting adequate nutrition-rich and safe food, traditionally and culturally acceptable, has not expanded into remote rural areas

• Promoting commercial production and income generating activities for farmers in rural areas remain limited

• Lack of transportation policy and mixed plants-food measures

• Natural food sources are diminishing due to ineffective enforcement of the regulations

TRENDS AND CHALLENGES

Trends in food consumption

• Rice consumption remains high

• Increase diversity of food consumption in cities due to economic growth and regional integration

Challenges

Problem Statements (PS): food security and nutrition

1. Shortage of agricultural production in certain areas and seasonality

2. Low purchasing power of food for consumption

3. Low diverse nutrient-rich food for consumption

4. Low access to clean water and sanitation

PROBLEM & SOLUTION - 1

Solution 1.1: Promote diversified and nutrient-rich production of food crops and livestock-fish to ensure food consumption at household and community level

Solution 1.2: Promote clean and safe agricultural production

Solution 1.3: Promote primary processing, storage, and food processing for safety and long last for consumption

PS I: Shortage of agricultural production in certain areas and seasonality

• Promote production of home garden vegetables, food crops incl. oil crops, and fruits (both on and off seasons)

• Promote raising of small livestock and fish (raising technique models & animal vaccination) & management of fish conservation area

• Promote sustainable management and utilization of NTFPs and insects for food

• Promote crop production focusing on clean and safe production standards • Promote livestock production focusing on clean and safe production standards

• Promote post-harvest technology for crops to ensure cleanness and safety and animal slaughter with hygiene

• Promote technology for simple processing and long last storage to ensure food safety • Expand networks of appropriate power sources, especially in remote areas with food

shortage for food storage and diverse food processing

PROBLEM & SOLUTION - 2

PS II: Low purchasing power of food for consumption

Solution 2.1: Create opportunities for farmers to generate income from agriculture and non-agriculture sector through comparative advantage

Solution 2.2: Create mechanisms for access to food markets

• Encourage farmers on commercial production of crops and animal with economic potential in each local area (organic crops, clean and safe crops, and local animal-fish)

• Promote and facilitate production groups/cooperatives through PPP • Encourage farmers to earn more from value adding of agricultural production

using traditional knowledge/new skills and non-agricultural activities (incl. conservation tourism in potential areas)

• Create mechanisms for smallholder farmers to access to credits• Promote sustainable preservation and management of potential NTFPs for sale

• Create more buying-selling points (remote areas) and more local markets from small to large scale (village focal areas)

• Build roads to facilitate easy access to food buying-selling points • Disseminate market and price information for agricultural products

PROBLEM & SOLUTION - 3

PS III: Low diverse nutrient-rich food for consumption

Solution 3.1: Raise awareness on consumption of diverse nutrient-rich food

Solution 3.2: Provide nutrition education to extension workers, local agricultural-forestry staff, and community/village authorities

Solution 3.3: Promote diverse and sanitary food processing

• Develop teachers with nutrition and sanitation expertise especially for rural areas, focusing on knowledge transfer on food consumption with good nutrition and sanitation starting from kindergarten

• Advertise and disseminate information on nutrition, health hygiene, maternal pregnancy health, and children under 5 years old (TV, radio, louder speaker, brochures, news board…)

• Promote and facilitate providing inputs (processing tools, fuel sources...) and simple and various cooking methods emphasizing on safe food

• Increase nutrition knowledge for local agriculture-forestry staff and village authorities to understand the nutrient benefits of particular crops and livestock

• Develop information booklets on nutrient benefits of crops, meat, fish, egg & etc

PROBLEM & SOLUTION - 4

PS IV: Low access to clean water and sanitation

Solution 4.1: Raise awareness and change behavior about health and hygiene in rural areas

Solution 4.2: Develop clean water and hygiene in rural areas

Solution 4.3: Offer alternative health and hygiene with standards in rural areas

• Enhance community knowledge on health and hygiene • Develop and improve staff skills and knowledge on health and hygiene

• Create infrastructure to supply clean water in remote areas• Encourage people to build their own household latrines• Develop teaching materials on sanitation

• Disseminate information and offer alternative health and hygiene with standards

IMPLEMENTATION AND COORDINATION

• Food security and nutrition is a complex issue, can not be solved by only one sector, but required cooperation from other sectors

• MAF has various roles to play as lead, co-responsibility, and supporting sector in implementing and coordinating with relevant sectors

• Planning divisions from MAF’s line departments and institute should take the roles, ensuring to integrate the food security and nutrition into their roles and plans

• Institutional set-up within MAF and local levels responsible for food insecurity and nutrition work?

• Support for local agencies concerned for food security and nutrition (capacity building, coordinating mechanisms, tools)

USES OF THE WHITE PAPER

• Reference and contribution to the development of Agriculture and Forestry sector linking to food security and nutrition

• Inputs to the planning and implementation of the National Food Security Program and GAFSP project

• Contributions to the development of the planning tools by integrating food security and nutrition into agriculture and forestry district planning

THANK YOU VERY MUCH