Written by Mekong Institute
The Mekong Institute (MI) was commissioned by the InWEnt gGmbH Capacity Building International, Germany to co-design, develop and deliver a series of capacity building program for InWEnt targeted groups of Cambodia and Lao PDR. One of the programs is Agriculture Value Chain and Community Based Ecotourism, which was organized for eighteen non-governmental organization officers and government officials of Cambodia. The structured learning visits aimed for participants to study agriculture value chain and roles of government agencies in enterprise development and community business.

The participants visited six places namely 1) Fish Run at Aranyaprathet Customs Office in Sa Kaeo province, 2) Community Based Home Stay in Nakhon Ratchasima province, 3) Silk Production OTOP in Mahasarakham province, 4) Cooperative Rice Mill in Roi Et province, 5) NASO Community Organic Rice Mill in Yasothon province, and 6) Si Sa Asoke Self-Reliant Community in Si Sa Ket province.  

The evaluations conducted throughout the learning visits confirmed that the objectives were achieved and the learning visit was successful. Most of the participants were very satisfied with the program as shown in the total average rating on 1) satisfaction on structured learning visits design, 2) Mekong Institute services satisfaction, and 3) overall impressions on the structured learning visit (4.2, 4.6 and 4.1 respectively).However, there were comments and suggestions for improvements, such as more time for meeting and discussion at each visited place, more members of community or cooperative during discussion, more practical activities on some productions such as soap, GABA rice, organic fertilizer, etc.