Despite more than 10 years of robust economic growth in Lao PDR, the situation remains unchanged for the 40 percent of children under five years that continue to be affected by chronic malnutrition, denying them the right to reach their full mental and physical potential. Many also suffer from high levels of micronutrient deficiencies.

In rural areas, every second child is stunted - too short for their age or chronically malnourished. For those who grow to adulthood, contribution to society is limited. They are less likely to have adequate retention of their education, more likely to be ill, less productive and will generally earn lower incomes than their well nourished peers.

These alarming statistics reveal the importance of putting nutrition at the centre of national development. The 1 December launch by the government of the National Nutrition Policy is thus most welcome. The policy places nutrition as a cornerstone for development and emphasizes the importance of nutrition for the well-being of families [...].

While 14 ministries or equivalent organizations are involved, the Ministry of Health in technical cooperation with the National Science Council are assigned lead agencies charged with elaborating a national strategy and action plan. […]

Rice is the key staple food in Laos. But rice alone is not enough for good nutrition: access to and consumption of adequate quantities of a variety of safe, good quality foods are required to provide nutritional needs. Poor rural households in Laos traditionally rely on a wide diversity of wild foods such as fish and other aquatics, animals, insects, vegetables and fruits for their crucial protein, fat and micronutrient intake. Diets are seasonally and culturally specific. A study in Salavan province […] showed that the amounts of wild food gathered per family amount to up to 260 kg per year.

Hence the sustainable management and protection of land and water, forests and biodiversity are of paramount importance for improving food and nutrition security.

Economic development and investments are a key part of development; and proper socio-economic as well as land use planning are needed as well. Indeed, unfettered investments in agro-based industries, mining, hydropower, tourism, bio energy, and other forms of degradation of natural resources place rural people at higher risk of malnutrition, and food and livelihood insecurity. Sustainable land use planning, including responsible management of local resources supported by good agricultural practices as promoted by FAO throughout the food chain play an important role in ensuring that economic growth protects and promotes improved nutrition.

The policy is a legally binding document, and the country now has a unique opportunity to make sure its people are supported for improved food and nutrition security, especially at a time when high food and energy prices combined with a global financial crisis put additional stress on the poorest and disadvantaged segments of society, and on common hopes for a world free from hunger. This applies especially to the people living in the uplands where the highest levels of chronic malnutrition exist. It would likely be impossible and at least very costly to replace the quality and quantity of wild foods with cultivated products.

I would like to congratulate the government of Laos and officials in relevant ministries and other organizations that have developed the National Nutrition Policy with the support of a number of stakeholders, civil society, the United Nations family, international and national non governmental organizations and international finance institutions, including the financial support from the European Commission through the EC/FAO Food Security Programme. The real work, however, still lies ahead of us.

OpEd by Serge Verniau, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Lao PDR