A training course on Agriculture Sector Value Chain Analysis and Promotion has been organized in the Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen, Thailand. In order to indentify and find the weak links in the value chains of their respective countries, 28 government officials from Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, and Yunnan Province of PR China had been trained on a course running from Nov 28th Dec 9th, 2011. 

According to Kaplinsky (2009), value chains describe the full range of activities which are required to bring a product or service from conception, production, delivering to consumers, to its final disposal. The analysis, on the other hand, indentifies how the productivity of the value chain can be improved. 

In a presentation by Mr. David Lima Singapore business consultant, it has been said that the real goal is to increase the amount of products that reach the consumers, and maximize the profit along the entire value chain. He also challenged participants to think of ways to add value to their local product and apply such knowledge. The participants may not all be people of authority to make any immediate and drastic changes, but they should be able to influence and mobilize the change for the good of all including the producers or farmers in the region. 

To enhance the learning process, participants visited Rice, Swine and Vegetable Chains in Khon Kaen Province as well. 

The participants are individually tasked to come up with projects to be implemented within the next 6 months by applying knowledge and skills they obtained from the training course. After which they will report back to MI their progress and impact on their local communities, or national policies.