MI, Rice Department of Thailand Conclude the Rice Pest and Natural Disaster AI System Project
March 23, 2023
Mekong Institute (MI), in collaboration with the Rice Department (RD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Thailand, organized the End-of-Project Workshop for the project “Development of Rice Pest and Natural Disaster Monitoring, Forecasting and Warning Center for Sustainable Rice Production under Climate Change in the Mekong-Lancang Subregion”, on March 21-23, 2023 in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.
The workshop showcased the achievements and outcomes attained by the project in its three years of implementation with partners from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam (CLMTV). It also provided a platform for the LM Region to discuss best practices and lessons learned as well as to plan for the maximum utilization of the AI system developed.
“Faced with various challenges, the rice sector of the Lancang-Mekong (LM) region has a remarkable economic value but has yet to reach its potential due to its vulnerability to shocks, many of which are the result of our changing climate,” said Ms. Maria Theresa Medialdia, Director of Agricultural Development and Commercialization Department of MI, in her opening remarks. She highlighted that the project aims to contribute to addressing the challenges of climate change by developing and pilot-testing an AI-based Monitoring, Forecasting and Warning System for Natural Disasters and Rice Pest Outbreak.
In his message, Dr. Chitnucha Buddhaboon, Director of the Division of Rice and Rice Products Inspection and Certification, stated that the project is a way for the LM countries to work together in strengthening and achieving sustainable rice production in the region.
Supported by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, the project aims to establish a Rice Pest and Natural Disasters Monitoring, Forecasting and Warning Center in LM countries for sustainable rice production amid climate change. Likewise, the project intends to enhance the scientific climate knowledge of CLMTV and improve the regional coordination and communication channels for more effective rice production planning and management.