Within the framework of the regional project "Network for Agriculture and Rural Development Policy Research and Consulting for the Countries of the Mekong Sub-Region" (NARDT) funded by IFAD, the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Development Agriculture and Rural Development organized a regional workshop to kick off research and assessment of agricultural development policies in some countries in the Mekong sub-region.
The workshop focused on methods and implementation plans for regional research. The content of the study mainly evaluates agricultural development policies in a number of countries in the Greater Mekong region. This is a necessary comparative study for the region, especially in the context that agriculture is shifting from the traditional small-scale and fragmented development model to a centralized, large-scale and modernized organization. This context poses many opportunities and challenges, requiring an appropriate policy approach for the goal of adding agricultural value. Therefore, it is necessary to have a consensus on research methods for all three countries, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Dr. Truong Thi Thu Trang, Director of the Center for Agricultural Policy, IPSARD, presented the research methodology and plan
About the background
- Agriculture is an important industry for the stability, job creation and growth of the countries of the Mekong sub-region. Agriculture attracts about 30-70% of the labor force, specifically in Laos it attracts 31% of the labor force (in 2017), in Cambodia it attracts 64% of the labor force (2014) and in Vietnam it attracts 33.1% of the labor force (in 2020) and contribute about 11-30% of the total annual GDP of each country, 16.5% of the total GDP of Laos, 22.8% in Cambodia, 21.4% in Myanmar and 14.9% in Vietnam (in 2020) (ADB , 2021)
- Agricultural development policies of the countries in the Mekong River region are oriented to transform traditional, small, fragmented, and intensive agriculture with input factors (land, water, cheap labor). ) to large-scale production, develop key commodity chains for domestic consumption and export.
- The context of the world, regional and domestic situation in the coming period continues to be unpredictable. Trade conflicts between major countries are complicated and intense. Cross-border epidemics may occur more, negatively impact the global economy, change the way economic activities and consumption habits of people. Prices of agro-forestry-fishery products are increasingly closely linked with fluctuations in distribution channels, the trend is faster and stronger than before. The trend of protectionism has increased, countries have increased the application of barriers on technical standards, and it has been difficult to negotiate the export of agricultural products to some major markets. The 4th industrial revolution and digital transformation have fundamentally changed the production and business methods of agro-forestry-fishery products, positively affecting agriculture and rural areas, and improving the efficiency of production, processing and consumption. tree
The objectives of the study are:
- Review policies to support agricultural development in the period 2010-2022 by policy groups.
- Assess the current status (achievements and limitations) on the implementation of agricultural development policies of each selected country for the study.
- Proposing policy recommendations to develop the agricultural sector of each selected country in the coming period.
About the data collection method