IRRI-Myanmar wins award for its technologies and products display at the LIFT Annual Forum 2014

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)-Myanmar office’s exhibit of its different activities, technologies, outputs, and products received the award for best stall display during the Livelihood and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) annual forum 2014 at Thingaha Hotel, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on 25-26 November.

Under this year’s theme, Knowledge sharing and ideas for Myanmar’s rural development, the two-day event brought together national and international rural development specialists from government and non-government organizations, and private institutions to support LIFT’s vision to be a collective voice for innovation and learning, and to provide a platform for policy engagement.  The IRRI-Myanmar stall display featured corporate posters and best management practices in stress-prone environments, publications, videos, and 7 newly released rice varieties from the Participatory Variety Selection Trials in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Research, and non-government partners.  It bested 15 international and local non-government partner organizations of LIFT who participated in the competition based on the following criteria: (a) design and arrangement, (b) attractiveness of materials, (c) clarity of message, (d) quality of personal interaction, and e) overall impression.

LIFT Annual Forum 2014 also conducted 4 sessions to discuss the changing dynamics of Myanmar’s rural economy, private sector engagement with smallholder farmers, building knowledge platform for agriculture, and rural development and increasing resilience of rural households. Experts in these four themes presented plenary papers followed by panel discussions and open forum.

His Excellency U Soe Thane, union minister at the President’s Office, and Roland Kobia, ambassador of the European Union to Myanmar, gave the key messages. Attending the event were Dr. Madonna Casimero (IRRI representative, Myanmar), Dr. Romeo Labios (IRRI scientist), Dr. Ye TunTun, Dr. Nyo Me Htwe, and Dr. KhinThawda Win (IRRI postdoctoral fellows), and May NweSoe (IRRI assistant scientist).

The LIFT annual forum 2014 was jointly organized by LIFT Fund Management Office and the Myanmar Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development.

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