Kurzbeschreibung
(Englisch)
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SDC support for the development of a national rice research capacity in the Lao PDR goes back to 1990. Since then, SDC has provided a total of about USD 10 million for three phases of the La~lRRl Rice Research and Tralning Project (LIRRTP), which is implemented by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). From a very low base LIRRTP has developed a functional NaUonal Rice Research Programme (NRRP) involving more than 120 researchers and covering all provinces.
The LIRRTP is based on the conviction that there is considerable potential in the Lao PDR to increase rice production and the productivity of rice-based farming Systems, to reduce environmental degradation, especially in the uplands, and to promote appropriate institutions and policies in agricultural research and development. This is particularly relevant in a poor country like Laos, where agriculture -mostly rice production - accounts for 56.5% of GOP and employed about 85% of the population in 1998. After decades of rice deficits, Laos has for the first time reached self-sufficiency in rice in 1999. To a large extent this is due to the rapid spread of new varieties of glutinous rice, which have mostly been developed within the NRRP supported by IRRI (SOC). The Lao Government has recently approved a TMStrategic vision for the Agriculture Sector,, to 20101 which is giving appropriate weight to agricultural research and development, and the links between research and extension.
The objective of.Phase 4 is to consolidate the NRRP, increase national leadership and make it more relevant farmers through the adoption of a "farmer participatory research and development approach5. By 2003, the NRRP must be in a position - with limited external support - to reach farmers based on an improved capacity to define, plan, implement, document, monitor and evaluate a research program of focused, needs-based adaptive and applied R&O for rice production in both lowland and upland environments of Laos. Given the progress made in the more homogeneous lowland rice production systems, and given the huge challenge of finding viable alternatives to shifting cultivation in the uplands, Phase 4 will put a greater emphasis on the highly diverse upland production systems characterised as "agroforestry systems where rice is an important component". For this reason, the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) will be involved in the irnplementation of the upland component of the project. LIRRTP will participate in a collaborative approach to more participatory upland agricultural research - the Upland Agricultural Research Project (IUARP), which involves most institutions active in upland agricultural research in Laos. IUARP is promoted by the newly founded National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI).
Based on project sustainability considerations and the increased Lao ownership, which should be reached in phase 4, the financial volume for Phase 4 is lower than that of Phase 3. Only two international scientists ~eam Leader and Upland Research Specialist) are financed. SOC, however, will provide for a JPO1 position from 2001 onwards. The JPO will be assigned to assist the consolidation of lowland rice research.
Beyond 2003, SOC intends to reduce its support to NRRP, possibly providing very limited funds for local operational costs and a continued backstopping of the NRRP through IRRI. With regards to research and development for upland agriculture, SOC will evaluate -through the set-up of LIRRTP Phase 4-the potential of ICRAF as an implementing partner for the fut(ire. Since eariy 2000, ICRAF has started developing an larger agroforestry program for the Mekong Region, which includes the operations now planned in Laos within
LIRRTP
A complementary proposal to support the emergence of a national agricultural extension system in Laos is currently under negotiation with the MAF and will be presented for approval by late 2000 or eariy 2001.
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