PROMOTING CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONS IN LOWER MEKONG COUNTRIES

Agricultural Development And Commercialization

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BACKGROUND

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), known for its rapid economic growth, faces significant challenges like poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation, which have been further intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation underscores the importance of regional cooperation. Predominantly agricultural and home to numerous small-scale farmers, GMS faces challenges like food insecurity and the impacts of climate change.

Recent years have seen an increase in climate-related hazards like floods, droughts, and landslides. The Mekong River Commission reported significant economic losses and impacts on millions of people due to a severe dry spell in 2020. Predictions indicate temperature increases and more severe natural disasters in the future, including increased evapotranspiration and extreme temperatures, especially during the dry season. Sea-level rise, causing saline intrusion into freshwater sources, further aggravates these challenges. The agriculture sector is particularly vulnerable, with potential increases in floods and droughts threatening food security, crop yields, and livestock. Small farmers are especially at risk due to their reliance on rainfed agriculture and limited resources.

In response, Mekong countries have initiated various measures, including policy frameworks and strategic plans, to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts. These include promoting water conservation, sustainable agricultural practices, and establishing research centers for climate-smart agriculture (CSA). CSA practices, focusing on productivity, resilience, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, have shown positive results in rebuilding ecosystems, sustainable agriculture, and water resource management. However, challenges like funding, knowledge transfer, and private sector participation remain in scaling up CSA strategies.

Addressing these gaps is crucial for wider adoption of CSA practices and enabling farmers to adapt more effectively to climate change. Within this context, the project aims to enhance the resilience of agricultural value chains in Lower Mekong Countries by ensuring that there are suitable and context-specific CSA approaches, capacitated technical manpower, accessible climate finance services, and increased collaboration among key actors in the value chain.

COUNTRY OF IMPLEMENTATION

Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam (CLTV)

GOAL

The resilience of the agricultural value chain in the Lower Mekong Region is enhanced due to widespread uptake of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies and innovations.

OBJECTIVES

Contributing to CLVT’s national agenda for climate change, the project will:

  1. Develop the human resource capacity of national agencies and academic institutions in delivering CSA technical support to farmers and food producers for the effective adoption of technologies;
  2. Create awareness on the importance of inclusive climate-smart financing and provide a platform for knowledge-sharing and discussion among relevant stakeholders;
  3. Increase regional cooperation in promoting environmentally-conscious agricultural value chains and conducive policies for better economic incentives to small farmers and food producers.

APPROACHES, COMPONANTS & ACTIVITIES

  1. Promoting Climate-Smart Technologies and Innovations in the Agricultural Value Chains
  2. Catalyzing CSA Adoption through Integrated Climate Financing Options
  3. Communications and Outreach

FINANCED BY

Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

Project Duration : 2023 - 2024

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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.