Vientiane: The government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office (UNRCO), convened a High-Level Policy Dialogue at UN House in Vientiane to discuss the integration of youth-led digital innovation into rural development investment.
According to Lao News Agency, the dialogue was the culmination of the Youth4Laos Digital Agriculture challenge, where students from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Laos proposed digital solutions to address issues faced by small-scale farming families. The initiative aimed to leverage the insights and energy of young people in advancing sustainable food systems.
Director-General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Phakavanh Phitsamy, underscored the importance of youth involvement in agricultural innovation. She described young people as active innovators crucial for the advancement of sustainable food systems.
Reehana Raza, IFAD Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, highlighted the potential for Youth4Laos to serve as a replicable model in the region, emphasizing the transformative role young innovators can play in modernizing agriculture into data-driven agribusinesses.
Shairi Mathur, Head of the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Lao PDR, stressed the necessity of investing in youth as part of sustainable development. She pointed out the pivotal role young people have in creating innovative solutions for climate resilience and sustainability.
Enika Basu, the newly appointed IFAD country director for Lao PDR, detailed IFAD's efforts globally to equip young individuals with essential skills for competitive markets, focusing on business management, leadership, and technical expertise.
The young participants visited farming households in Pholart Village, Chomphet District, and Nasao Village, Luang Prabang District, which are involved in the IFAD-cofinanced Partnerships for Irrigation and Commercialisation of Smallholder Agriculture (PICSA) Project. They experienced irrigation, climate-smart agriculture, and ICT activities firsthand.
Students from Seoul National University and the IFAD Youth Club Japan joined students from the Faculty of Agriculture of the National University of Laos to learn from Lao farmers. They presented their findings to a diverse audience, including senior government officials, diplomatic representatives, development partners, and civil society organizations.
Youth4Laos aims to inspire initiatives that actively engage youth in agriculture and food systems, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and Lao PDR's National Socio-Economic Development Plan, fostering a sustainable future.