What is LEAP?

The Laos Extension for Agriculture Project (LEAP) is a capacity-building project based in the National Agricultural and Forestry Extension Service (NAFES).

Phase 1 of the project started in November 2001 and came to an end in December 2004. Phase 2 started in January 2005 and will contine until 2007.

The project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Helvetas in collaboration with NAFES.

Project Goal

The goal of LEAP is:

To support the development of a decentralised, participatory, pluralistic and sustainable agricultural extension system that reaches male and female farmers equally.

Strategy

The design of LEAP is anchored in the policies of the Government as expressed in the Strategic Vision for the Agriculture Sector (1999) and the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES, 2004).

LEAP also builds on earlier experience in Laos, by further developing the extension approaches that were piloted under previous projects such as FIAT, PEP, LSFP and FAO-IPM. Consequently, LEAP is helping to consolidate the lessons that have been learned in the Lao PDR over a period of nearly 10 years.

Achievements in Phase 1

Between 2001 and 2004, LEAP used a 'cascade training system' to support extension activities in 96 villages.

At the national level, LEAP organised a series of 7 workshops for Master Trainers, most of whom came from the Central Extension Training and Development Unit (CETDU). The Master Trainers then organised workshops and provided coaching for Provincil and District staff in three Provinces: Luang Prabang, Champassak and Saravanh.

More than 1,300 farmers participated in learning projects supported by the Provincial and District extension staff. The most popular subjects were rice production, chicken raising and pig rearing. In the rice groups, farmers often increased yields by 50%, while many members of the chicken and pig groups were able to double their production.

Plans for Phase 2

In Phase 2, LEAP will support the expansion of the Lao Extension Approach that has now been adopted by NAFES.

This involves two components:

• Capacity-building at the field level. In each new province there will be training for selectd Provincial and District staff, and start-up activities in 10 villages.
• Capacity-building at the national level. The project will support the establishment of a National Extension Alliance, which will promote information-sharing and practical cooperation among the various organisations involved in extension.

Across both components, LEAP will support the efforts of the Government to increase the benefits of extension for women and the poor.

By the end of 2007, the Lao Extension Approach will be operating - to a limited extent - in all 18 Provinces of the country. Plus, collaboration will be taking place among different government organisations and foreign-assisted projects to ensure the further expansion and sustainability of the approach.

More information

A number of reports produced by LEAP can be found in the documents section of this website, including the Basic Tools Handbook. You can contact LEAP at this address