The Human Resources Development Project for the Mekong Region Phase IV (HRDP IV) was a 4-year project (2003-2007) sponsored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and managed by the AVRDC-ARC. At its final meeting in Bangkok, Thailand from 14-17 May 2007, HRDP IV NARS collaborators described the achievements made towards the goal of increasing income from vegetable production and increasing consumption of vegetables by farming households in upland and remote areas of Vietnam, Lao PDR and Cambodia.

The project ended with renewed vigor in refresher courses for extension workers and farmer field schools (FFS) to educate farmers in advanced vegetable production technologies spearheaded by AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center. In the final year, emphasis was also placed on impact assessment. The impact assessment reports by consultant economists showed increases in both income and consumption of vegetables by target and non-target households of the project areas. The achievements of educating farmers about improved methods of vegetable production through an enhanced linkage between research and extension has set the groundwork for promoting sustainability in vegetable production in all three Mekong countries.

The Director General of AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center was invited to the Final Steering Committee Meeting where he shared the vision of the Center and shared with the 23 participants the achievements of the close collaboration between The World Vegetable Center and SDC. The First Secretary – Development and Cooperation of the Swiss Cooperation Office for the Mekong Region, Dr. Michel Evéquoz thanked AVRDC and ARC as well as the project partners for a successful implementation of HRDP IV.

Source: AVRDC-ARC