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early warning systems in Laos Pest and disease in rubber East & Central Asia project briefs A warmer, wetter world is likely to be sicker. The Mekong region is a hotspot for human, animal and plant disease and many pests and diseases are likely to intensify with climate change, imposing enormous burdens on human health and the agricultural sector, and hindering broader development. In order to better tackle climate-sensitive disease, the region requires better information and tools. In Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China forecasting systems for rubber and agricultural production have been in use for a while now, yielding positive experiences and valuable knowledge. Transferring this example to northern Laos and establishing automatic meteorological stations to provide better ‘climate intelligence’, would greatly benefit the Lao people, who are exposed to a similar climate, and have comparable agriculture and livelihoods. We are working closely with key organizations from Bokeo and Louang Namtha Provinces in northern Laos, as well as Chinese partners. We organize mutual visits and training in Xishuangbanna to share knowledge about how our automatic meteorological stations work, and how the generated ‘climate intelligence’ can serve the agricultural sector and others. In addition, we will explore the possibility of establishing automatic meteorological stations in the two provinces, while building capacity for a real-time forecasting system for agriculture that can issue early warnings about disease outbreaks. If successful, the project can be expanded to include other regions and crops. July 2015 – www.worldagroforestry.org/eca – [email protected] - Pest photos: Kapila Liyanage / ICRAF Yufang Su World Agroforestry Centre ECA c/o Kunming Institute of Botany 650204 Kunming, Yunnan, China Tel: +86 871 6522 3014 Email: [email protected] Automated systems that warn early about pest and disease in rubber plantations, and provide information about the best time to tap and spray pesticide will benefit the income, health and environment of rubber farmers in northern Laos.
