CO-BENEFITS AND COOPERATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Agricultural Development and Commercialization

In support of World Food Day, Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, MI Executive Director, called for deeper multi-country cooperation, broader public-private partnerships, and a more integrated policy framework to advance agricultural development in the Mekong region at the webinar hosted by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and Pakistan Basmati Heritage Foundation on October 16, 2020.  

“Sustainable agricultural development can be realized through co-benefits and cooperation,” he said in a taped presentation, before enjoining partners to pool experiences and expertise so governments and the private sector can replicate best agricultural practices, policies, and communication campaigns that will contribute towards poverty alleviation and food security.

In the last two decades, MI has spearheaded several programs and projects to help set the foundation for inclusive and equitable growth in the Mekong region. Specifically, MI has empowered smallholder farmers and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in remote communities across Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam so they may access rice, maize, and coffee commercial value chains under the Regional and Local Economic Development-East West Economic Corridor project.

“Initiatives such as these are important to ensure farmers’ and SMEs’ equal access to opportunities in the value and supply chains so they can thrive in competitive regional markets, resulting to better income and livelihood,” Mr. Suriyan explained.

In addition to strengthening resilience of farmers and SMEs, MI has been working to build a food safety culture in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV) to help the region better meet growing food requirements, protect public health, and boost market competitiveness. Supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme, the PROSAFE project enhances national and local food safety and postharvest management systems and expertise, as well as bridges public-private partnerships to advance food safety regimes through policies, standards, regulations and practices.

To date, MI has trained 673 food safety champions in the CLMV, who in turned capacitated over 25,000 people in the CLMV.

“MI’s multilateral and multi-faceted approach to strengthening agricultural development and commercialization is designed not only to help farmers and SMEs increase their profitability, it is also to balance economic gains with social and environmental responsibility so the Mekong region can truly attain and sustain lasting development for the next generation,” he said.

Mr. Suriyan was one of 11 international speakers at the online event. The webinar was also supported by the International Rice Research Institute, Galaxy Farm, OXFAM, UPSIGN, and ARID Agriculture University.

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.