SWGARD

Sector Working Group on Agriculture and Rural Developmen (SWGARD )

What is the SWGARD?
The Agriculture, Rural Development and Natural Resources Management Sector (ANR) continues to play an important role in the economy of the Lao PDR. The rapid development in Lao PDR has been helped by a number of investment projects, particularly in mining and hydro-electricity production, which are within the ANR sector. The impacts that these projects have on the environment need to be carefully managed. The majority of the population still directly depends on agriculture for their livelihoods and efforts at reducing poverty by the Government and Development Partners targets low income farming households. Natural resources also provide essential environmental services and economic safety nets. Climate change is causing severe weather conditions that destroy crops and livelihoods. Measures to mitigate these impacts need to be put in place.

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