Lao farmers need no ‘magic’ to adapt to climate change

In the National Adaptation Programme of Action to Climate Change developed by the Lao government in 2009, Deputy Prime Minister Chair of National Environment Committee Mr Asang Laoly says Laos has seen in recent years “more frequent and severe floods and droughts which are alternately occurring each year.” “Temperature is continuously increasing and the rainfall is erratic, resulting in a number of adverse impacts to the economic system, environment and the livelihoods of people of all ethnic groups," reports MindaNews.

A National Agricultural Forestry Research Institute project funded by the UNDP, Resilience of Agricultural Sector to Climate Change Impacts (IRAS), helps farmers in two vulnerable districts which are prone to flood and drought, and have a high percentage of poor farming households. The climate change adaptation strategies taught to locals include crop diversification and water management.