The event will be a gathering of experts from international organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, civil society, and the private sector who will take part in a discourse on global, regional, and national perspectives on agricultural transformation and market integration. The launch workshop will be attended by representatives from relevant government agencies in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, and the Philippines – countries, which are primarily the focus of the project.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) -- funded project will be implemented by IFPRI as lead and SEARCA as implementing partner. This project aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of ASEAN Member States (AMS) to develop and implement policies and sub-regional programs in support of the integration of smallholders in agriculture and food markets. Specifically, it will strengthen collaboration among the AMS on priority and emerging issues in smallholder agriculture and food and nutrition security; catalyze a broad-based/multi-stakeholders regional platform learning and sharing of research-based knowledge and information; and optimize potentials for resource pooling and mobilization in support of common agenda.
With the event as a venue for the exchange of information on structural transformation, agricultural trade, food security and inclusiveness, the workshop is expected to culminate with a framework of analysis and a workplan for developing national strategic plans of action to promote small-scale rural producers’ (SSRPs)’ competitiveness in regional agrifood markets. (Ma. Katrina R. Punto)
