Stakeholder Forum of the Sub-sector Working Group on Irrigation (SSWG-IR): the opportunities for solar-powered irrigation in Lao PDR

Inphonephong, Souphalack; Vongxay, V.; Bounnavong, K.; Dubois, Mark. 2024. Stakeholder Forum of the Sub-sector Working Group on Irrigation (SSWG-IR): the opportunities for solar-powered irrigation in Lao PDR. Report of the Second Semiannual Stakeholder Forum of the Sub-sector Working Group on Irrigation (SSWG-IR), Vientiane, Lao PDR, 14 October 2024. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 23p.

This report summarizes the 2024 second semiannual Stakeholder Forum of the Sub-sector Working Group on Irrigation (SSWG-IR), held in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR, on October 14, 2024. Organized by the Department of Irrigation (DOI) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), and supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the forum gathered over 80 participants from government, academia, development organizations, farmer groups, and enterprises.

The forum’s main objective was to facilitate discussions on solar-powered irrigation opportunities in Lao PDR. It also presented policy frameworks for irrigation development from 2026 to 2030, seeking initial feedback to shape the upcoming Irrigation Development Master Plan. Discussions emphasized solar-powered irrigation as a climate-resilient, cost-effective option for areas without grid electricity, with benefits for dry-season agriculture, food security, and organic farming.