A Roadmap for Agricultural Development in ASEAN
Following a multi-stakeholder consultation process, the ASEAN Roadmap for Enhancing the Role of Agricultural Cooperatives in the Global Value Chain 2018-2025 was adopted on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) on 11 October 2018 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
A milestone achievement for the EU-funded ASEAN Farmers’ Organisations Support Programme (AFOSP), the Roadmap aims to assist resource-constrained smallholder producers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve productivity and product quality, meet gobal market standards and increase competitiveness in international markets. It will also support efforts to harmonise legal frameworks and institutional arrangements serving agricultural cooperatives in ASEAN Member States.
AFOSP subsequently held a regional workshop, in conjunction with the 8th ASEAN Cooperative Business Forum, to translate the Roadmap into an actionable work plan that aligns national cooperative development with the four pillars of the Roadmap: intitutional an capacity development; competitiveness; access to finance; and access to market.
AFOSP played a significant role in the development of the ASEAN Roadmap for Enhancing the Role of Agricultural Cooperatives in the Global Value Chain 2018-2025. This blueprint will enable us to accelerate the development of the agricultural sector in the region, and work towards genuine economic development and social justice.
Salvador Valeroso, Vice Chairperson, 20th Meeting of ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Agricultural Cooperative (ASWGAC)
Building a Sustainable Future for Coffee Farmers in Vietnam
Despite the area’s favourable geographical conditions and climate, coffee farmers in Lam Dong Province in Vietnam’s Central Highland region have long struggled with production inefficiencies due to limited production capacity, inadequate processing and storage facilities, and lack of knowledge on sustainable harvesting methods.
In 2016, two groups of local coffee farmers signed up to the 4C certification programme, a set of baseline practices and principles for the sustainable production of coffee beans. However, the adoption of sustainable production standards did not translate into higher pricing for their produce.
To address these pain points, the EU-funded ASEAN Farmers’ Organisations Support Programme (AFOSP), in partnership with local authorities and farmer unions, provided farmers with knowledge and capacity-building support focusing on business planning, market research, marketing and cooperative development. Farmers also visited cooperatives within and outside of the province to learn more about best practice business models, and to expand their network of suppliers, traders and customers.
In 2017, as a result of the project, the informal farmer groups formed two official cooperatives with a set of operational guidelines and responsibilities. Formalising the groups helped increase membership from the initial ten households to 110 coffee farmers responsible for 200 hectares worth of agricultural land.
Cooperative members devised joint business plans to ensure compliance with international sustainability standards and to align economic growth with environmental stewardship. Increased bargaining power through the cooperatives enabled farmers to secure more favourable deals from vendors and customers alike, reducing their operational costs, increasing their revenue and guaranteeing a stable source of livelihood.
Drought-Resistant Farming in Thailand
As Thailand grapples with what experts consider the worst drought in over a decade, the Don Lak Dam community in Khon Kaen Province suffers from the resulting shortages in water supply. Villagers lack access to electricity, drinking water and appropriate irrigation systems, which challenges their ability to undertake farming activities crucial to their livelihood.
In collaboration with the EU-funded ASEAN Farmers’ Organisation Support Programme (AFOSP), the Assembly of the Poor, a non-governmental organisation in Thailand focused on rural development, carried out an experiment to reverse the adverse effects of drought, by introducing a simple drip irrigation system using broken jars and plastic barrels, growing drought tolerant native plants, and breeding animals that require minimal amounts of water.
The initiative enabled the villagers to start producing seasonal food indigenous to their area, improve their livelihoods and thereby increase their self-esteem and well-being.
Because of water shortages, we have to travel to a nearby swamp, fill our buckets with water and bring them back in pushcarts. The water dripping equipment helps us cut the number of trips and supports our plans to shift to growing drought-resistant native vegetables and fruits, which will hopefully increase our income and compensate for poor rice yield.’
Sunantha Saenbut, Farmer, Don Lak Dam Community
Integrated Shed Houses for Tropical Farming in Laos
In recent years, shed houses were introduced in Lao PDR as an alternative means to growing vegetables during the country’s rainy season. However, the houses were roofed with plastic covers, which contributed to increased temperatures within the hut, not ideal in tropical countries. They were also expensive to construct given their singular purpose of harvesting vegetables.
With support from the ASEAN Farmers’ Organisation Support Programme (AFOSP) funded by the EU, the Lao Farmer Network developed an alternative design, with the roof and walls made out of a fine net fabric.
The redesigned shed house is more cost-effective to build, allows farmers to grow vegetables and raise animals such as ducks under the same roof, and has contributed to improving weed and pest control. By building on local knowledge and using locally available materials such as bamboo, this innovative design has empowered the community to pursue more efficient farming methods and thereby increase villagers’ income levels.
I can earn about USD 100 from selling vegetables and
Sone, Head of Don Sehong Producer Group, Khong District, Champasack Province
about USD 600 from selling ducks—all grown in the same
shed house.
Zero Energy Cooling and Storage in Laos
Farmer organisations in Lao PDR have traditionally struggled to commercialise their produce due to lack of adequate storage and cooling facilities. Past attempts to introduce modern cooling systems were not fit for purpose; they were too big and too expensive to operate due to the cost of electricity and maintenance. Without an effective storage system, farmers were unable to align their production plans with market demand, which resulted in oversupply and wastage during low season.
The Lao Farmer Network, in partnership with the EU-funded ASEAN Farmers’ Organisations Support Programme (AFOSP), developed a low-cost, zero energy cooling and storage system run without electricity. The storage area is kept cool through connection to natural sources of cool air such as spring wells or creeks, resulting in a documented 4-7 degrees Celsius drop in temperature.
Produce that has previously gone to waste during the harvest season due to lack of demand can now be stored until it fetches a higher price in the market. Farmers can also purchase vegetables they don’t grow and keep these in the storage area. This simple, effective and low-cost technology has helped farmer organisations improve both productivity and their living standards.
Even though the storage area is not as cool as a refrigerator, it allows us to protect our produce from wind, sunlight and heat.’
Khammone, Head of Thongmang Organic Vegetable Group
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