To enhance food security, representatives from the APTERR Secretariat and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, met with the United Nations World Food Programmes (WFP) Lao PDR on 11 March 2025 in Vientiane, Lao PDR to exchange insights and expand knowledges and understanding on WFP’s experience in implementing rice fortification as a strategy to alleviate malnutrition in the country.
During the meeting, Dr. Choomjet Karnjanakesorn, General Manager of the APTERR Secretariat, updated on the positive feedback on WFP’s proposal for rice fortification in emergency rice, presented at the recent 13th APTERR Council Meeting in last February in Japan.
Mr. Marc-Andre Prost, Representative and Country Director of WFP Lao PDR, provided an update on malnutrition situation in Lao PDR and how the rice fortification has been implemented to improve the nutrition, particularly for students in the country. In the meantime, Mr. Kenji Okuhira, Director of Grain Quality Assurance Office, Grain Trade and Operation Division, MAFF Japan, introduced Japan’s initiative ‘School Distribution Programme’ under Tier 3, which was implemented in Lao PDR last year to support schoolchildren from impoverished communities.
The APTERR Secretariat is going to continually collaborate with WFP and the APTERR member countries in exploring a potential partnership aligned with the APTERR’s objectives to strengthen food security by improving nutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups in the APTERR member countries.
The meeting was also attended by representatives from the WFP Lao PDR including Mr. Naoki Maegawa, Deputy Country Director; Ms. Shamsiya Miralibekowa, Head of Nutrition; Ms. Viengmany Onepaseuth, Head of Logistics; and other WFP officers, MAFF Japan, namely Mr. Toshiki Tojo, Deputy Director of Grain Trade and Operation Division; and Mr. Aro Kasakawa, Section Chief of Grain Trade and Operation Division, the APTERR Secretariat including Mr. Akinori Ando, Japanese Expert; Ms. Jansinee Kankaew, Head of Implementation; and Ms. Sita Kumpol, Secretary to the Japanese Expert.
Rice fortification was first introduced in Lao PDR as a pilot initiative in 2023 through WFP’s school meal programmes, engaging various relevant agencies from both the government and private sectors. The initiative has yielded positive results in addressing malnutrition. Meanwhile, the APTERR has been implementing the Tier 3 programme in Lao PDR, contributing nearly 8,000 MT of APTERR rice contributed to support food security during emergencies and poverty alleviation efforts
This year, a total of 3,700 MT of APTERR rice contributed by Japan, P.R. China and the Republic of Korea has been pre-positioned under Tier 3 for emergency preparedness and response in Lao PDR.
