Hanoi (VNA) – A workshop was held in Hanoi on July 16 to launch a regional project toimprove cooperation in policy research, implementation and advocacy in agricultureand rural development in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The project “Networkfor Agriculture and Rural Development Think-tanks for Countries in Mekongsub-region” (NARDT) is funded by the International Fund for AgriculturalDevelopment (IFAD) and implemented by the Institute of Policy and Strategy forAgriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD) under the Ministry of Agricultureand Rural Development.

The NARDTobjectives are to improvecooperation through the establishment of researcher networks to share policyexperience and information toward sustainable agriculture and ruraldevelopment; identify regional opportunities, challenges and key issues foragriculture and rural development; implement joint policy actions includingjoint policy research, formulation, implementation and advocacy; and facilitatethe institutionalization of relevant innovations.

According toDeputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien,agriculture plays a very important role in the economic development and social stability in Vietnam,Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia,

Thoughagricultural production in the sub-region has improved in recent years, it faces many difficulties due to short resources, low labor productivity, slower growthand widening development gapbetween urban and rural areas, Tien said.

The countriesin the sub-region have been enforcing several effective policy reforms. Forinstance, Cambodia is a good example of how to develop premium rice brands andvalue chain to enter high-end markets, while Laos is experienced in developing clean and sustainable agriculturalproduction, he noted.

The official said via the project, Vietnam wants tofoster cooperation between countries in the Mekong sub-region to share goodpractices in agricultural and rural development through extensive policyadvisory networks of not only governmental agencies but also non-governmentalorganisations and the privatesector.

“With the helpof IFAD and the active coordination between Mekong sub-region countries, thisproject will help improve effectiveness of policies in the Mekong sub-regionand, at the same time, strengthenpartnership and promote the development of effective and responsible trade andinvestment and between the countries in agricultural and rural development,” hestated.

The workshoplater saw the signing of a cooperation agreement to develop the NARDT networkin the region and in each country between the IFAD and the founding members ofthe NARDT network including the IPSARD, Myanmar’s Centre for Economic andSocial Development (CESD), Laos’ National Agriculture and Forestry ResearchInstitute (NAFRI), and Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI).–VNA