Laos - Annual Key Agenda for Agricultural, Forestry, and Rural Development Policy Research

Key Chapter Title List

1. Preface
2. Background
3. Agricultural Sector Context
4. Development Framework and Methodology
5. Policy Framework
6. Research Topic Prioritization
7. Key Research Topics for 2025-2030
8. Implementation Partnerships
9. Research Quality Assurance
10. Communication
11. Funding Sources
12. Acknowledgements

Document Introduction

The National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) of Laos has spearheaded the development of the 2025-2030 Policy Research Priority Agenda (PRP). This agenda is driven by the initiative of the Policy Think Tank (PTT) at the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development Policy Research and was formed through multi-stakeholder consultations. It aims to provide clear guidance for policy research in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and rural development in Laos. The agenda is highly aligned with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's (MAF) "2025 Agricultural Development Strategy" and "2030 Vision," while also connecting with NAFRI's existing research projects. It serves as a core framework for promoting evidence-based policy formulation, accelerating research collaboration, and supporting national sustainable agricultural and socio-economic development.

Currently, Lao agriculture faces multiple challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing financial and economic crisis pose risks to agricultural investment and green recovery; climate change-induced extreme weather events such as floods and droughts affect the stability of agricultural production; farmers grapple with production difficulties like labor shortages, crop diseases, and gaps in agricultural input supplies; simultaneously, issues such as restricted market circulation, low procurement prices, and inadequate infrastructure hinder the commercialization of agricultural products. Furthermore, factors like the inefficiency of traditional farming techniques, soil fertility degradation, and low accessibility to agricultural technologies further exacerbate the cycle of rural poverty and productivity stagnation, urgently necessitating targeted policy research and solutions.

The agenda development process employed a comprehensive stakeholder engagement mechanism, including bilateral consultations with multiple ministries such as MAF and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as multilateral consultations covering government agencies, research partners, civil society organizations, etc. This ensures the research topics are highly matched with national priorities and the needs of various sectors. The research framework is divided into three core themes and one set of enabling factors, namely: Sustainable and Resilient Food Production and Agriculture, Economic Strengthening, Social Inclusion, and enabling factors including coordination mechanisms and policy coherence. Each theme further specifies concrete research directions and key research questions.

Each research theme focuses on practical policy needs and development pain points: the Sustainable and Resilient Food Production area focuses on climate-smart agriculture, promotion of water-saving technologies, and biodiversity conservation; the Economic Strengthening area concentrates on poverty reduction for smallholder farmers, value chain upgrading, and improved market access; the Social Inclusion area emphasizes resource access rights, decision-making participation for rural youth and women, and empowerment of vulnerable groups; the enabling factors are dedicated to optimizing policy implementation coordination, promoting gender equality, and knowledge sharing. All research is based on NAFRI's existing six major research programs, ensuring feasibility and continuity.

The implementation of the agenda will rely on diverse partnerships, integrating the resources and expertise of national and international research institutions, government departments, the private sector, and civil society organizations. It aims to enhance research quality and impact through resource sharing, knowledge transfer, and collaborative action. Simultaneously, through rigorous quality assurance mechanisms (including peer review, standardized processes, and capacity building), precise communication and dissemination strategies (targeting policymakers, practitioners, and the public), and diversified funding sources (government budgets, development partner support, and private sector collaboration), it ensures that research outcomes can be effectively translated into policy practice, providing strong support for Laos to achieve its goals of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agricultural development.