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The agricultural sector is a cornerstone of Lao PDR’s development strategy, employing over 70 percent of the population. However, agriculture is contributing only 16 percent of the country’s GDP due to factors including low productivity and lack of modernization, among other issues. To unlock the potential of agriculture to end poverty and hunger by 2030 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals there is a need for more and better investment in agriculture. FAO estimates that additional investments of USD 41 million per year are needed to achieve the first two Sustainable Development Goals, of which USD 34 million should specifically target agriculture.
Through FAO’s Umbrella Programme “Supporting Responsible Investments in Agriculture and Food Systems”, FAO is providing specific support to the Government of Lao PDR to enhance responsible investments in agriculture and food systems. FAO is raising awareness of the ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry and the CFS Principles for Responsible Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS RAI) among various stakeholders and is working in constant collaboration with the government to ensure the enabling policy, legal, regulatory and institutional environment is in place at a national level.
