A meeting between the Consultant, OAE, and Nan Province Agriculture and Cooperatives Office was held online on 16 September 2021 via the Zoom platform. The main purpose of the meeting was to inform about the TA and its operations to the head of Nan Agriculture and Cooperatives Office Mr. Adisorn Chantarapraphalert as well as provide an update on the work plan considering the present CoVID–19 restrictions.
Ms. Pasinee Napombejra of OAE and Ms. Orathai Pongruktham of ADB presented the TA outline and its implementation framework. Team leader Dr. Nathsuda Pumijumnong presented an overview of the TA and its outputs, along with the activities under each of those outputs.
Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) Mr. Rapibhat Chandrasrivong addressed the participants in the meeting and iterated the importance of food systems and that the TA in Bua Yai will serve as a platform for implementing climate–smart agriculture techniques in other highland provinces.
In regard to the TA workplan, there were activities under Outputs 1 and 2 that were not carried out as planned due to the limitations imposed on travelling owing to the CoVID–19 pandemic. The Consultant, OAE, and ADB officials came to an agreement to submit an updated work plan to the OAE considering all changes in the CoVID–19 restrictions in recent weeks.
Representatives from the Nan Province Agriculture and Cooperatives Office stated that the pandemic situation in the area had improved recently, and gave the Consultant the green light on carrying out pending field activities, provided that members of the Consultant team were fully vaccinated and adhering to all CoVID–19 preventive measures in place. The office also extended their help to the Consultant team for any activities that would be required during the field visit.
