Irrigation mission to review services and determination of irrigation to prepare for the Small Green Agriculture Competitiveness Project was held between 05 and 16 June 2023. This mission was led by LACP project coordinators, along with irrigation experts from the FAO of the World Bank, coordinators from departments and institutions around the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, as well as provincial project coordinators in each province, provincial and district irrigation sectors, and members of irrigation water user group. The main purpose of the mission is to 1). Review the current infrastructure and irrigation services supporting agricultural production and diversification in Lao PDR and identify potential and areas for investments; 2). Propose an investment strategy for infrastructure and irrigation for the period up to 2030 to support greater agricultural diversification and inclusive green agriculture value chains; 3). Identify potential infrastructure and irrigation schemes to be included and financed by the SGACP for conducting feasibility studies, technical designs, and social and environmental safeguards.
In the implementation of the mission this time, the team participated in meetings to collect information on the status of irrigation services and visit selected irrigation systems in the proposed target provinces to review the current infrastructure and irrigation services that support agricultural production. Emphasis on irrigated areas that have the potential to grow large-scale cotton, at the same time, we are also sure to make a chain of production, especially in the new provinces of the SGACP project with potential: Savannakhet, Saravan and Champasak province.
