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PROJECT “NETWORK FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
THINK-TAKS FOR COUNTRIES IN MEKONG-SUB REGION” (NARDT)

by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030 as part of the “Global Methane Pledge”. In
2022, Cambodia became the first country to publish a plan to achieve carbon neutrality
by 2050, officially known as “Long-term strategy for Carbon Neutrality (LTS4CN). The
plan ensuring the forestry sector reformation; decarbonization of transport systems;
and the promotion of low-carbon agricultural and goods production processes. For Lao
PDR, in accordance with World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), Lao PDR
committed to reduce the emission from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).
Lao PDR aims to improving land use, strengthening forest protection, and enhancing
forest restoration in line with the 2019 Forestry Law, the 9th National Socio-Economic
Development Plan for 2021-2025, and the National Green Growth Strategy to 2030, in
six targeted provinces (Houaphanh, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Bokeo,
Xayabouly). Comparing with Thailand, a leading country in carbon footprint reduction,
many countries are still in the early stage of the plan. Thailand have drafted its own Climate
Change Act, as well as integrating 15 million electric vehicles on roads by 2035, as part
of the country’s strategy to lower greenhouse gas emissions and stepping up nature-
based solutions by planting about 100 million new trees across the country by the end
of 2022. Thailand and Viet Nam are now moving forward with reducing carbon footprint
planning, applying new technologies for reducing fossil fuels and coals, reforming policies,
including agricultural policies to further contributes to reduce greenhouse gas, as well as
sustainable agricultural production.

4.2.5. Unexpected impacts of COVID-19 pandemic

Cambodia rice production scene mainly depended on small-scale farming,
and with the unpredictable impact of COVID-19 pandemic, the rice production scene
becomes more challenging for Cambodian farmers. The biggest challenges are
border restriction, causing a huge economic challenge toward small-scale farmers
in Cambodia. Farmers have been at risk of falling into debt since most farmers still
depend on selling farm-gate paddy rice to foreign traders.

In Lao PDR case, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers are coming
back to their native place from neighboring countries because of the loss of jobs. The
Corona virus - 19 has affected agricultural production systems and food chains, producers,
consumers, traders, investors, and people of all genders and ages. As a result, the economy
of Champasak Province in 2020 grew only 3.63 percent. However, exports were able to
perform better than the plan by 5.5 percent. The investment of domestic and foreign
businessmen was estimated at 272.25 million US dollars. The government sector highly
supports and encourages all the fields, especially agricultural and rural development such
as crop plantation, animal raising, industrialization processing, and transferring modern
technologies to save the household budget and move to the new scientific concept
which encourages the replacement of scattered production to focus on the production
of a commodity according to the market management step by step. Youth remains a
significant force in helping revitalize agricultural systems and the food supply chain in the
era of the COVID-19 pandemic by helping drive agricultural development more efficiently
and sustainably while adapting to risks. This is aimed at resolving the public debt, financial
policy, and developing the infrastructure-oriented policy to reduce taxes by providing
ongoing assistance to those who are affected by the COVID-19 cases. This also reduces
costs for various sectors of business investors by adjusting the national law to resolve the
underlying cause of the difficulties which increases the attractiveness of foreign trade
(investor), especially on the Lao-China railway, and to open new international markets.

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