The Government of Lao PDR aims to diversify the economy away from the natural resource-based sector towards economic activities with stronger potential for job creation. Beside manufacturing and services, the agricultural sector plays an important role in economic diversification. In this context, the World Bank called for a study to identify critical policy and investment areas that generate inefficiencies, hamper linkage and negatively affect productivity within the rice and vegetable value chains. UNIQUE was contracted to support the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Agriculture Commercialization Project that was under preparation to support the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

• Targeted structured interviews with stakeholders along the rice and vegetable chains.
• Qualitative assessment of organization and processes along the value chains.
• Quantitative analysis of costs and margins along the value chains.
• Detailed description of price build-up from farm-gate to consumer markets.
• Identification of domestic and international cost drivers.
• Development of policy recommendations.