Strategy for reform in the Agriculture and Forestry Colleges towards 2020

Why reform in agriculture and forestry colleges is needed

Modernizing the agriculture and forestry sector is a top priority of the Lao Government in
achieving food security and better livelihoods for all Lao people. The main objectives in the
agriculture and forestry sector are to enhance market-based farming, reduce disparities
between lowland and sloping land and enforcement of sustainable forest and watershed
management practices.
Agricultural extension is a key strategy of the Lao Government to achieve these objectives.
The vision of the Ministry is to have a new type of extension worker, who can work with
farmers in the style of participatory technology development. Skilled agricultural technicians
will also be needed by the private sector, who is investing rapidly in the agricultural sector.
This sets the scene for the future role of the agriculture and forestry colleges as the engine of
agricultural extension in Laos. There are five agricultural colleges, maintained by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, who are the main providers of qualified trained staff for
the agricultural sector:

1. Northern Agriculture and Forestry College, Pak Seuang, Luang Prabang Province
2. Thangone Irrigation College, Thangone, Vientiane Capital City
3. Bolikhamxay Agriculture and Forestry College, Meuang Mai, Bolikhamxay Province
4. Savannakhet Agriculture and Forestry College, Na Kae, Savannakhet Province
5. Champasak Agriculture and Forestry College, KM7 Pakse, Champasak Province

Graduates need social, economic, finance, marketing and micro-enterprise development skills
to support farmers effectively in linking to markets. Teaching needs to evolve from root
learning to skills-based learning, higher rates of enrollment of women and ethnical minorities
are needed, colleges need to be better linked to the private sector and to the agricultural
extension system.

How the strategy was developed: stakeholder consultation process

In 2006, the Ministry hired a consultant to assess key issues and draft strategic solutions for
reform in the agriculture and forestry colleges through consultation with a range of
stakeholders. In 2007, the Ministry assigned an internal taskforce to develop a strategy
towards the year 2020 for reform of the agriculture and forestry colleges. This taskforce
organized a series of consultation workshops to get more inputs from stakeholders, using the
2006 consultancy report as a basis for further discussion.
These workshops were held in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Bolikhamxay, Savannakhet and
Champasak. A total of 131 participants from 9 provinces participated in these workshops.
They consisted of college staff, representatives from various Government agencies,
agricultural companies and private sector organizations, as well as donor-funded and NGOsupported
projects and other potential employers in the agricultural sector. The taskforce then
summarized the outcomes of these workshops in a report, which served as the basis for
drafting a strategy document. The taskforce also added considerations on how the strategy
could best be implemented. The draft strategy was reviewed by policy-makers from various
departments in the Ministry. The result is the present strategy document.

Download the Strategy for reform in the Agriculture and Forestry Colleges towards 2020 (PDF - 179 KB)