VIENTIANE, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Laos is hosting discussions with other Mekong countries on green and sustainable development initiatives and policies to enable the positive transformation of agricultural production, local media reported on Wednesday.
Representatives of government agencies, farmers, the private sector, and development partners from Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam are meeting in Lao capital Vientiane from Tuesday to Wednesday to discuss the national green growth strategy and draft the Green and Sustainable Agriculture Strategic Framework (GSASF).
The Regional Workshop on Green and Sustainable Agriculture is being chaired by Lao Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Lien Thikeo and co-chaired by the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to Laos Muhammad Nasar Hayat.
The workshop is supported by an international non-profit organization the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the Department of Policy and Legal Affairs under Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Wednesday.
Speaking at the workshop, Lien said the Lao government recognized green growth as offering opportunities to contribute to sustainable economic, social and environmental development.
The workshop played an important role in discussions among members of the GSASF, which will help further sustainable green development in the region.
The minister stressed that green development was part of the government's policies to improve farmers' incomes, national nutrition, and food security.
The GSASF is being developed to align with policies and strategies at the regional and international levels as well as the ongoing development of the ninth National Socio-Economic Development Plan and the next Agriculture Development Strategy for 2020-2025.
Stronger partnerships and continuous consultations around green and sustainable development are crucial to improving collaboration among stakeholders, especially the private sector and farmers, as key actors on the ground, said the report.
Participants are also exploring green agriculture in the field by visiting and interacting with farmers to learn about their production and marketing techniques at an organic farm in Thaxang village in Pakngum district, capital Vientiane.
In recent years, Lao government and development partners, particularly FAO, have expressed their commitment to work together to promote green and sustainable agriculture.
Such efforts can help maximize the production of safe and nutritious agricultural commodities and food products while being supportive of biodiversity conservation.
