Joint research
Topic
- Agricultural Cooperative Policies
Partner Agency
- Department of Agriculture Extension and Cooperatives, MAF
1st Field Survey
- From June 15 to 21, 2013, the Joint Research team (Dr. Eui Sik Hwang and Prof. Donghwan Ahn) visited Lao PDR for the 1st field survey. On June 15, the Kick-off meeting was held to decide target areas and commodities for the joint research. The target areas of the research would be five provinces including Vientiane Capital, Vientiane, Kahm Mouan, Savannakeht and Champasak. In addition, the target commodities are rice, vegetable and coffee. The team visited farmers groups focusing on target commodities in target areas, markets, rice mill associations with the MAF to collect data and conduct interviews for analyzing current status of farmers group and diagnosing obstacles.
2nd Field Survey
- From August 15 to 17, 2013, the Joint Research team visited Lao PDR for the 2nd field survey. During their visit, the team had a meeting with agricultural finance institutions such as Agricultural Promotion Bank and Microfinance Institution for Development; and conducted in-depth interviews to examine the problems. In addition, the Joint research team provided feedback on the interim report and proposed direction for the final report to the MAF. Furthermore, the team discussed issues regarding the agricultural cooperative policy and shared the Korean experience on organizing farmers group and cooperatives.
Result-sharing Workshop in Lao PDR
- From October 17 to 20, 2013, KREI team visited Lao PDRs for the result-sharing workshop. The Workshop was held on October 18, 2013 to share the final result of joint research and proposed the future ODA projects regarding agricultural cooperatives in Lao PDR. KOICA, JICA, and DGRV participated in the Workshop and discussed the result of research and their experience on related projects. As a result of the joint research, the necessity of pilot agricultural cooperatives projects utilizing micro-finance was emphasized for the development of agricultural cooperatives system in Lao PDR.
Major Findings
- The objective of the Joint research is to collect data on the topic of agricultural cooperatives and to analyze their situations and circumstances in Laos. In addition, the research is to review the long and short-term agricultural policy and to make practical recommendations to the related Ministry of Lao PDR for the future development of the agricultural cooperatives. The research was conducted in the Vientiane, Kham Mouan, Savannakhet, and Champasak provinces on the current development status of agriculture and agricultural cooperatives, marketing system for major products, farmers’ organizations and financial services. The research indicated the problems such as low access to market and finance, weak capacity of farmers group, lack of legal framework and system for AC. As a result of the research, the MAF proposed the project with the following components: capacity building for the development of agricultural cooperative, AC development fund-raising, establishing management operation system for AC, etc.