Visit by senior staff of the Laotian Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, to Szarvas on 5 August 2017

First, the guests visited  NAIK-HAKI, which institution is decisive in the development of Hungarian-Laotian agricultural relations. Initially, cooperation was restricted to the development of fisheries, but it has been expanded continuously to cover development projects in livestock management and fodder production and later food chain safety also.

Béla Halasi Kovács presented the organisation and the operation of the institution, which adjusts to changing circumstances, particularly with respect to meeting practical needs. In the future, HAKI may have a stronger role in Hungarian-Laotian cooperation; the renewal of cooperation between HAKI and LARReC, its Laotian partner institution, would be mutually advantageous. Signing a cooperation agreement between NAIK and NAFRI, its potential Laotian partner, could provide an excellent framework for this. The Laotian party emphasised that HAKI could assist in the implementation of the tied aid loan program currently in progress, as the development of quality fish supply is one of its main elements.

The guest showed great interest in inspecting the recirculatory systems of the institute, whose structure and the works carried out were presented by Sándor Diviki and Gyula Kovács. Afterwards, led by Béla Halasi-K, they paid a brief visit to the experimental lakes, where they acquainted themselves with the “lake in the lake” system. In view of the importance of Laotian rice production and ecological management, the program of the visit to Szarvas included the inspection of the eco-rice processing plant of Vereckei Kft., where the guests observed an example of applying quality assurance in practice.

The “Szarvas Fish Days” were held during the visit of the Laotian guests, so they had the opportunity to see a cultural and gastronomy event linked to fishing. The Laotian guests visited HAKI’s presentation stand, where Gyöngyvér Fazekas gave them information. After lunch, the guests visited ÖVKI’s experimental site at Galambos, where Orsolya Molnár informed them of their work related to rice sublimation and maintenance breeding; the guests also paid a brief visit to the packaging plant of Oryza Karex Kft. The last stop of their visit was at the lab of ÖVKI KAK, where Dóra Sinka received the guests and explained the work of the lab. The Laotian experts see an opportunity for utilising ÖVKI’s experience in improving the efficiency of the operation of similar Laotian laboratories.