Regional Vegetable Forum 2019

The vegetable sector is becoming a higher focus for research, development and the private sector in Southeast Asia due to the greater nutritional and economical values that can be derived. However, the sector faces several key challenges including (1) low average yields of vegetable production in many places; (2) limited knowledge of good horticultural practices; (3) postharvest losses as high as 40%; (4) produce that does not conform to quality and safety demands of consumers; and (5) difficulties supplying markets demand during the wet season. Various technical applications and practice changes can help to manage production, postharvest handling and market access.

Therefore, this year's Regional Vegetable Forum focuses on ‘Supporting adoption of improved practices and new technologies by smallholders for sustainable year-round production of safe fresh vegetables’. The Forum will bring together experiences and expertise to canvass the challenges, the strategies and the research that offers effective impact, enables increased awareness and confidence in interventions and ultimately moves target audiences toward adoption. It aims to share understanding of issues (social, economic, technical and political) that can inhibit adoption, map the challenges facing vegetable chain actors and identify the critical barriers to adoption in a collegial and open manner. 

Event: Regional Vegetable Forum 2019, ‘Supporting adoption of improved practices and new technologies by smallholders for sustainable year-round production of safe fresh vegetables’
Date: Wednesday 11 September 2019
Time: 8.30 - 17.30, with network opportunity from 17.30 on
Location: National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), Ban Nongviengkham, Xaythany District, Vientiane