Lao Upland Rural Advisory Service (LURAS) Phase II Project - Midterm Review

• Research unit: SDC
• Project number: ExSt.2021.1278

Key words (English)

Lao PDR, Laos, Smallholder farmers, Market System, Extension Services, Value Chains

Short description (English)

"The Lao Upland Rural Advisory Service Phase II, Lao PDR (LURAS) is a four-year project (December 2017 to November 2021) funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by the international non-government organization Helvetas, in partnership with the Department of Technical Extension and Agro-Processing (DTEAP) within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). It aims to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in upland Lao PDR through their access to an improved extension service through four outcomes. 1: Healthy and sustainable farming systems in the uplands; 2: Market systems in rural areas that are fair and profitable; 3: Extension services are relevant for disadvantaged social groups; 4: Knowledge systems support green farming and agribusiness. Key achievements of LURAS at the time of review are as follows: 1. Green extension learning (such as action research, F2F) has increased knowledge and adoption of sustainable farming practices such as composting, natural pest management, improved seed storage; 2. Farmers have the confidence to increase their production of tea and coffee in response to more reliable markets and improved returns, which is a healthier and more environmentally friendly means of farming than relying upon high chemical inputs; 3. Youth in rural areas, including women and ethnic minorities, have an opportunity to build their own agribusinesses and contribute to local employment and the provision of services to farmers with the Agripreneurs for Green Rural Enterprises and Employment (AGREE) scheme; 4. There are interactive extension materials and support available for farmers using digital technologies, such as Facebook and Whatsapp which are especially suited to the younger generation; 5. The flexible approach of LURAS within the project design has allowed it to quickly respond to Fall Army Worm, coffee cherry borer and COVID-19; 6. Nurturing farmer groups informally from the bottom-up has fostered their sustainability compared to a traditional top-down approach; 7. The Lao Farmer Network (LFN) has reached its expectation of being a self-reliant organisation recognized by government and is contributing to increased empowerment of youth and female farmers. "

Related documents

• Lao Upland Rural Advisory Service (LURAS) Phase II Project - Midterm Review [PDF] 4'582 kB

Contractor (English)

Mr Stuart Ling, Ms Davone Bounphasouk consultants

Charged budget (English)

SDC

Legal basis (English)

Art. 57 Abs. 1 RVOG | Art. 57 al. 1 LOGA. | Art. 57 cpv. 1 LOGA

Copyright (English)

Copyright, Bundesbehörden der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft | Droits d'auteur: autorités de la Confédération suisse | Diritti d'autore: autorità della Confederazione Svizzera | Dretgs d'autur: autoritads da la Confederaziun svizra | Copyright, Swiss federal authorities

Information (English)

SDC, Asia Division, [e-mail]