Cold Storage Facility and Seed Support from TİKA to Laos Agriculture

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has completed the installation of two cold storage units and the renovation of an existing seed storage facility at the Rice and Crop Research Center under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Laos, aiming to support sustainable agriculture and food security in Southeast Asia.

This project addresses the need to store climate-resilient rice seeds under safe conditions, one of the most critical challenges facing Laotian agriculture due to climate change-induced disasters. Thanks to the new facilities, 300 tons of registered (R2) rice seeds can now be preserved in ideal conditions at temperatures between 5-10°C, ensuring rapid access for farmers during emergencies.

The project not only supports Laos’ goal of producing 3.5 million tons of rice by 2025 but also contributes to mitigating climate risks in the country’s rice-growing areas, 88% of which rely on rainfall and are vulnerable to disasters.

In addition to this project, TİKA also provided rice sorting machinery and 30 tons of rice seeds to farmers affected by floods in the provinces of Bolikhamsai, Khammouan, and Savannakhet in 2023. Developed in cooperation with the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), these seeds are distinguished by their resistance to floods, droughts, and diseases.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Vientiane, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Chanthanet Boualapha, stated that the rice sorting machine donated by TİKA helped classify over 450 tons of rice seeds at the Rice and Crop Research Center, reducing the rate of empty seeds distributed to farmers from 15% to 8%. He also noted that, thanks to the cold storage units established by TİKA, the annual loss of 15 tons of rice seeds with germination rates below 80% was reduced to 8 tons by 2025.

At the same ceremony, Turkish Ambassador to Vientiane, Oya Yazar, emphasized that the cold storage units established by TİKA represent a significant step in addressing the global climate crisis and food security challenges. She highlighted that TİKA’s projects in Laos — previously focused on healthcare, vocational training, and production — now also make an important contribution in the field of agriculture.

Dursun Ali Yaşacan, Head of TİKA’s Department of East and South Asia, Pacific, and Latin America, stated during the ceremony:

“In the face of an ongoing global food crisis, it is clearer than ever that international cooperation in agriculture is not a luxury – it is a necessity. Especially in Southeast Asia, where millions depend on rice farming, sharing knowledge, technology, and innovation is essential for regional food security and economic stability. This project is not just a technological investment; it is a strategic cooperation that enhances Laos’s agricultural resilience and supports our shared food security goals.”

In today’s world, where global climate change threatens food systems, this project directly aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Zero Hunger and Resilient and Sustainable Food Production Systems.

As TİKA continues to support the establishment of climate-friendly agricultural systems in least developed and developing countries, the newly established cold storage units in Laos stand as a significant symbol of the growing development cooperation between the two nations.