Introduc)on*

•  The*Mekong*Extension*Learning*Alliance*(MELA)*is*a*sub<regional*network,*organised*under*the*umbrella*of*the*Global*Forum*on*Rural*Advisory*Services*(GFRAS)*

•  The*idea*of*(MELA)*was*born*at*the*SDC*mee)ng*on*‘Reaching*the*Millions’,*held*in*Hanoi*in*March*2015*

•  The*inaugural*mee)ng*of*MELA*was*held*at*the*Lao*Plaza*Hotel*in*Vien)ane,*26<28*August*2015.*

•  The*mee)ng*was*hosted*by*the*Lao*Department*of*Agricultural*Extension*and*Coopera)ve*(DAEC)*in*collabora)on*with*the*Lao*Upland*Rural*Advisory*Service*(LURAS)****

Ra)onale*&*Objec)ves*

The*Lower*Mekong*Region*is*home*to*225*million*people,*with*more*than*60%*of*them*living*in*rural*areas.***Investment,*trade,*exper)se*and*labour*are*flowing*from*one*country*to*another,*while*social*and*environmental*impacts*are*also*crossing*na)onal*boundaries.***Service*providers,*especially*those*who*lack*the*resources*available*to*mul)na)onal*corpora)ons,*also*need*be]er*access*to*informa)on.**Farmer*Associa)ons,*Government*Departments*and*NGOs*can*improve*their*performance*if*they*are*able*to*share*knowledge*and*skills*across*the*Region.**The*purpose*of*the*Mekong*Extension*Learning*Alliance*is*to*provide*a*forum*for*exchanges*of*this*kind.***

The*objec)ves*of*the*Inaugural*MELA*Mee)ng,*as*previously*agreed*in*Hanoi,*were:*•  Define*common*interests*of*members*•  Discuss*a*draa*charter*for*the*network*•  Agree*a*work*plan*for*next*12*months**

Country*Par)cipants*Cambodia(•  Sorn*Vichet,*General*Directorate*Agriculture,*MAFF*•  Mao*Minea,*Agriculture*Extension*Department,*MAFF**•  Norng*Sivouthan,*HEKS*•  Hem*Sovannarith,*SDC*(Laos(•  Kham*Oaune*Khamphoukeo,*Dept*of*Agricultural*

Extension*&*Coops,*MAF**•  Samlan*Pasetkhamla,*Department*of*Planning,*MAF**•  Souvanthong*Namvong,*Dept*of*Agricultural*Extension*

&*Coops,*MAF**•  Khamla*Sengphaxayalath,*Na)onal*Agricultural*&*

Forestry*Research*Ins)tute,*MAF**•  Maiyer*Xiong,*Faculty*of*Agriculture,*Na)onal*

University*of*Laos*•  Thongdam*Phongphichith,*Sustainable*Agric*&*

Environmental*Development*Associa)on*•  Anousone*Phimmachanh,*Lao*Fair*Trade*•  Rakesh*Munankami,*Helvetas*•  Philaiphone*Vongpraseuth,*SDC*

Myanmar(•  Khin*Oo,*Yenzin*Agricultural*University**•  Than*Myo,*Mon*Rubber*Planta)on*and*Produc)on*

Associa)on*(MRPPA)**•  Sai*Lone,*SWISSAID*•  Khin*Mar*Cho,*College*of*Agric,*Cornell*University**(Thailand(•  Wiparat*Morida,*Coop*Promo)on*Department,*MOAC**•  Wilasinee*Wangthapan,*Coop*Promo)on*Department,*

MOAC**•  Supi]aya*Pukjinda,*Coop*Promo)on*Department,*

MOAC**•  Surangsri*Wapet,*Dept.*of*Agriculture*Extension,*

MOAC**•  Marut*Ja)ket,*Thai*Educa)on*Founda)on,*and*The*

Field*Alliance*(Vietnam(•  Dao*Xuan*Cuong,*Syngenta*Founda)on**•  Nguyen*Thi*Thanh*Huyen,*Training*Division,*the*

Na)onal*Extension*Centre**•  Kin*Yen*Ngo,*Center*for*Rural*Economy*Development**

(CRED)**•  Dominic*Smith,*Helvetas*

Profiles(of(par,cipants(with(photos,(,tles(and((contact(details(has(been(distributed(separately((

Programme*

26(August(–(Mee;ng(Day(1(•  Introduc)ons*&*Expecta)ons*•  Statement*by*representa)ve*of*Lao*Farmers*Network*•  Presenta)ons*by*host*country*and*GFRAS***•  Presenta)ons**by*15*par)cipa)ng*organisa)ons*•  Group*discussion*–*What*should*be*the*basic*features*of*MELA*(part*1)*•  Official*dinner**27(August(–(Mee;ng(Day(2(•  Field*Visits*(incl.*organic*farmers,*rice*miller,*and*social*enterprise)*•  Lunch*on*the*Nam*Ngum*river*•  Presenta)on/discussion*with*Department*of*Agricultural*Extension*and*Coopera)ves*•  Presenta)on/discussion*with*Lao*Farmer*Network***28(August(–(Mee;ng(Day(3(•  Presenta)on*by*resource*people*(Thema)c*issue:**“Implica)ons*of*regional*integra)on”)*•  Panel*discussion*with*resource*people*•  Group*discussions**<**Features*of*MELA*(part*2)*and*Moving*Forward*•  Concluding*remarks*and*Closing**

Opening/Closing*Sessions*

A*statement*was*also*delivered*at*the*Opening*Session*by**Khammoun*Xaimany,**a*commi]ee*member*of*the*Lao*Farmers*Network***At*the*closing,*the*DAEC*was*represented*by*Mr.*Kham*Oaune*Khamphoukeo*,*Head*of*Division,*Group*Promo)on,*Coops*&*Agribusiness*

The*mee)ng*was*opened*by:*•  Mr.*Somxay*Sisanonh,*Deputy*Director*

General,*Department*of*Agricultural*Extension*and*Copera)ves*(DAEC).**

•  Mr.*Mar)n*Hasler,*Deputy*Country*Director,*Swiss*Agency*for*Development*Coopera)on*(SDC)***

•  Dr.*Virginia*Cardenas,*Member*of*GFRAS*Steering*Commi]ee*and*Chair*of*APIRAS*

Presenta)ons*

Presenta)ons*

All(presenta,ons(have(been(distributed(on(a(memory(s,ck,(along(with(a(full(set(of(GFRAS(materials((

Field*Visits*

Reflec)ons*on*Field*Visits*Southad(Rice(Mill(–(Challenges((1.  Coordina)on*with*farmers*to*produce*quality*rice*

and*fulfilling*contract*terms*(quan)ty*and*quality*of*supply*from*farmers)**

2.  Wants*to*increase*export*of*rice*to*the*neighboring*countries*–*Vietnam*and*China**

3.  Access*to*long*term*loan*for*investment*in*milling*facility*/*infrastructure**

Lao(Farmer’s(Product(–(Challenges((1.  Higher*cost*of*packaging*materials**2.  Organic*cer)fica)on*and*need*to*meet*organic*

standard*(and*cer)fica)on)*of*expor)ng*countries**3.  Higher*transac)on*cost*to*access*finance*by*

smallholder*farmers**4.  Fluctua)on*in*exchange*rate*(specially*Euro)*as*

the*target*export*marker*was*Europe*5.  Higher*cost*of*transport*for*exports**6.  Limited*domes)c*market*for*the*products*and*

aims*to*expand*the*market*in*Asian*countries**7.  Target*customers*are*in*the*high*end*market**8.  Increasing*the*benefits*to*smallholders*

Organic(Vegetable(group–(Challenges((1.  Limited*availability*of*organic*inputs*especially*

manure*to*use*in*organic*produc)on**2.  Irriga)on*/*water*is*not*enough*in*dry*seasons**3.  Farmers*have*to*rent*land*to*maintain*close*

proximity*of*produc)on*for*organic*cer)fica)on**4.  Expansion*of*organic*market*and*management*of*

market*independently**5.  Financial*management*and*book*keeping*skills*

are*limited*6.  Lack*of*cold*storage*facility*to*store*fresh*product*7.  Pest*a]acking*roots*of*vegetables*8.  No*long*term*contract*with*ins)tu)onal*buyers**9.  Cost*of*organic*cer)fica)on**

Expert*Panel*

From%le(%to%right:%%

•  Michael(Victor,*CGIAR*program*on*Water,*Land*and*Ecosystems*

•  Anthony(Zola,*Mekong*Environment*and*Resource*Ins)tute*

•  Qinfei(Zhu,**Mekong*Ins)tute*

Group*Work*

Some*outputs*

Features*of*our*Learning*Alliance*

Draa*mission*statement*

Organisa)onal*issues*

Detailed(outputs(from(Day(3(have(been(circulated(by(the(Coordinator(of(the(MELA(Working(Group(

Working*Group*

Standing,(leM(to(right:(•  Dominic*•  Marut*•  Qinfei*•  Rakesh*•  Norng*•  Wiparat*•  Vichit*(Seated,(leM(to(right:(•  Kim*Yen*(Coordinator)*•  Anousone*•  Khin*Mar*Cho*•  Virginia*

Here*are*the*MELA*members*who*volunteered*to*form*a*working*group*that*will*take*the*alliance*forward*in*the*months*ahead.*

Ac)on*Plan*

Based*on*the*outputs*of*Day*3,*the*Coordinator*of*the*Working*Group*has*circulated*a*detailed*ac)on*plan.**Here*are*the*main*points:**1********Development(of(MELA(charter*1.1****Review*results*of*MELA*workshop*in*Vien)ane*and*agree*on*the*outline*of*MELA*charter*1.2*****Assign*member*to*write*each*part*of*charter*1.3*****Each*member*sends*their*input*which*they*have*been*assigned.*1.4*****Consolidate*into*draa*charter*and*send*to*all*working*member*for*comments.*1.5*****Consolidate*comments*from*members*1.5*****Iden)fy*people*who*are*interested*in*being*involved*in*MELA**1.6*****Develop*draa*outline*for*development*strategy*for*MELA*2016<2020**2********Prepare(and(organize(F2F(workshop(of(MELA*2.1****Fund*raising*to*organize*the*workshop*2.2****Define*objec)ves*and*develop*agenda,*define*par)cipants*etc*2.3****Organise*and*facilitate*the*workshop**

A(proposal(was(also(made(for(the(next(MELA(mee;ng(to(be(held(in(Myanmar(in(February(2016.(((

See(you(there!(

We*also*had*lots*of*fun!*

www.facebook.com/weareMELA*

Evalua)on*summary*

Things(we(liked(•  Friendly*atmosphere*•  Mee)ng*new*people*•  Exchanging*experience*•  Group*discussions,*brainstorming**•  Interes)ng*field*visits**•  Extension*service*in*Laos*•  Good*Facilita)on*•  Logis)cs*and*organisa)on*•  Good*food*(Thins(we(didn’t(like(•  Tight*schedule*•  Too*many*presenta)ons;*no*)me*for*Q&A*•  Need*more*transla)on*in*field*visit*(

Light(bulb(moments(•  It*is*difficult*to*start*a*network!*•  Different*countries*have*different*

extension*approaches*•  Local*organic*market*run*by*farmers*•  Need*to*make*farming*more*a]rac)ve*to*

young*people*•  Understanding*of*GMS*/*AEC*(Take(home(messages(•  Tasks*of*working*group…*we*have*a*lot*of*

homework!*•  Will*share*info*about*MELA*in*my*country*•  Promote*organic*farming/market*•  Coopera)ve*spirit…*let’s*stay*in*touch!*