HARMONIZING RICE STANDARDS FOR HIGHER REVENUE AND FOOD SECURITY

Agricultural Development and Commercialization

Mekong Institute (MI) and the Thailand Rice Department are working to harmonize rice production standards and systems to help Lancang-Mekong countries better access and compete in international markets at an inception workshop under the “Development and Implementation of Common Rice Production Standard in Mekong Lancang Sub-Region” project at the MI Headquarters on November 10 and 11, 2020.

The blended onsite and online workshop convened 30 government officials from Cambodia, P.R. China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam to level off understanding of existing rice production standards in Lancang-Mekong countries, as well as to establish common understanding of project activities in the next three years, including outcomes and expectations on the roles and responsibilities among partners.

“Rice is life,” Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, MI Executive Director said before explaining that outcomes from the activity will have impacts on human nutrition, livelihood, and food security of people in the Mekong-Lancang region.  

“By working to harmonize our rice production, we contribute to strengthening sustainable rice-based production systems, which will in turn make more efficient rice trade facilitation and strengthen agricultural economies,” he said.

Currently, the Mekong region is the world’s largest rice producer. With rapid socioeconomic development across the region, each member country has adapted modern rice farming standards and systems to maximize diverse ecosystems and mitigate the impacts of climate change on rice yields. These, however, have resulted in disparate production across region, and thus have produced varying rice quality and quantity.

Mr. Narawoot Piyachoatsakulchai, Director of the Rice Product Development Division from the Thailand Rice Department stated that “it is a privilege to partner with MI in this important project.” He added that he and other government representatives “look forward to more activities such as the workshop to institutionalize information sharing of best rice management practices to further rice competitiveness in the region.”

Supported by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, the workshop is the first of a series of activities which will see MI and government agencies across the Lancang-Mekong region working together to assess current rice production systems.

This is the second blended online and onsite workshop of MI, with Thailand participants attending the sessions at the MI Headquarters in Khon Kaen, Thailand, while government representatives from Cambodia, P.R. China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam are participating via Zoom conference.

Related News

Scroll to Top

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.