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Laos, China ink deal on plant protection
Laos and China will partner in the area of plant protection and green crop standards after government officials signed an agreement in Vientiane on January 23.
The two sides agreed to work together in the fields of agricultural science and technology, especially in national plant protection networks.
The agreement was signed by Laos’ Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Phouangparisak Pravongviengkham and China’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Mr Yu Xinrong.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Laos’ Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Lien Thikeo and other representatives from the two sides.
Under the agreement, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) will assist the Lao ministry in the development of a plant protection system and green crop standards programme. CAAS will also assist the ministry with financial support for the implementation of activities.
In turn, the Lao ministry will assist the CAAS with the identification of financial sources and securing of financial support through submissions to appropriate donors, governments and institutions.
The parties will cooperate in the exchange of scientists and experts, as well as scientific-technical information and literature, while other forms of cooperation can be proposed and implemented through mutual written consent by both parties.
The two delegations will follow up with the respective authorities to report discussion results and areas of collaboration in order to obtain support and approval for future cooperation.
There will be further detailed discussions and memorandums of understanding will be signed for each agreed area of cooperation.
In recent years, Laos and China have signed agreements to cooperate in the areas of crop science, plant protection and animal science.
The two parties also agreed to work together in the fields of food quality and safety, and agricultural machinery.
Cooperation between the ministry and CAAS began in 2012 when the two parties teamed up in the use of trichogramma wasps for the biological control of pests in rice in Xayaboury province.
The parasitic wasps are tiny parasites that attack the eggs of over 200 species of moths and caterpillars.
The wasps seek out eggs, but do not feed on or harm vegetation. It is a particularly effective biological control agent because it kills its host before a plant can be damaged.
Tests conducted in Laos indicate that the tiny wasps are able to control pests that destroy rice.
Source: http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_Laoschina.php