Faculty of Agriculture of the National University of Laos (NUOL), Clean Agriculture Development Center (CADC), and the Mekong Institute co-organized a localized training course on “Good Agricultural and Postharvest Practices in Fresh Produce” at the Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos, Nabong Campus, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR on November 11-13, 2014. Eighteen provincial and district agricultural extension workers, university lecturers and a farmer leader participated in the training course. 

The objectives of the training course are to improve participants’ understanding of the application of GAP in promoting production quality and safety in vegetable produce. Serving as trainers to this training course are two Lao alumni of the Mekong Institute training-of- trainers (TOT) course on GAP who developed the training package for this course as well. 

Assoc. Prof. Somphanh Pasouvang – the Vice Dean welcomed the participants. He emphasized the importance and the need of agricultural standards in the regional and international markets. He mentioned that the market should have products of good quality. He also added that it is important to the Lao domestic market since nowadays consumers demand for higher standards on safety. He hoped that after this training course, the participants will share their knowledge and skills gained to farmers in their respective areas. At the end of his remarks, he thanked Mekong Institute for providing financial support in organizing this training course. He hoped that there will be more cooperative activities between the National University of Laos and the Mekong Institute in the future.