Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and FAO chair a meeting on the National Seed Policy. - Photo: Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE: The National Agriculture Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is partnering with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to produce a draft of the National Seed Policy.
Speaking at a meeting of NAFRI and FAO officials in Vientiane on Wednesday (Dec 18), Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Chanhthakhone Boualaphanh “A national seed policy is essential for conservation and seed production improvement to ensure that good quality crop seeds are available.”
The ministry has issued various policies and measures to create an environment that fosters seed development through the use of advanced technologies.
Dr Chanhthakhone said the agriculture and forestry sector is an important pillar of socio-economic development, especially for food security, goods production, improved livelihoods in rural areas, and preserving biodiversity and the environment.
The ministry first received assistance from FAO for the development of a draft national seed policy in 2018.
However, this has not been officially approved because the Department of Policy and Legislation was dissolved, bringing a halt to the process.
The ministry has now appointed a new committee to improve the draft of the national seed policy with further financial support from FAO.
Dr Chanhthakhone said yesterday’s meeting aimed to present the draft so that participants could add their opinions and ensure it is sufficiently comprehensive.
The policy will be used in future seed development to make the process more efficient and achieve positive results.
FAO Representative in Laos, Kyung-Mee Kim, said climate change, economic pressures, and cultural changes have made the need for a comprehensive seed policy increasingly urgent.
The absence of such a policy has made it difficult for the government to effectively manage and coordinate the seed sector, limiting farmers’ access to quality seeds and hampering the development of the seed industry, she added.
Over past years, FAO has had the privilege of providing technical support to NAFRI in developing this comprehensive draft seed policy.
The seed industry in Laos is currently unable to supply sufficient quality seeds to farmers, with both formal and informal seed systems playing crucial roles in meeting farmers’ needs.
This situation, combined with the need to preserve local varieties and culture, calls for a systematic approach to seed sector development.
In response to these challenges, NAFRI, with technical assistance from FAO, developed the first draft of the National Seed Policy.
“Today represents a crucial milestone as we gather to review and strengthen this important document that will shape the future of Laos’ seed sector,” Kyung-Mee Kim said. - Vientiane Times/ANN
