On 15 December 2023, the AFSIS Secretariat in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) of Lao PDR conducted the INAHOR Estimation Results and Utilization for 2023 Rainy Season Rice at Lao Plaza Hotel, Vientiane, Lao PDR
In the opening session, it was honored by Dr. Thasaka Saphangthong, Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, MAF of Lao PDR, delivered the opening remark. While the representatives of the AFSIS Secretariat were Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, AFSIS Manager, Mr. Charapon Chantorn Deputy AFSIS manager, and Mr. Miyake Yasuhiro, AFSIS Japanese Expert, who attended the aforesaid workshop.
This workshop aims to report the outcomes of the National Estimation Project in Lao PDR implemented in August 2023 and to widely disseminate the outcomes of joint project which are the SAFE and AFSIS’s SAFER in Lao PDR to ASEAN member countries. Moreover, the workshop was emphasized the importance of AFSIS and also supported the AFSIS new framework to strengthen the existing role, function, and sustainability of the AFSIS in the region by effective collaboration, sharing of best practices, inspiring actions, and raising awareness together.
During the workshop, there was a session for an Overview of INAHOR estimation results of 2023 rainy season rice planted area and an Evaluation of INAHOR results and utilization of INAHOR in domestic operation.
The workshop was successfully ended with the collaboration of CAS of Lao PDR, MAFF Japan, JAXA, and AFSIS. The knowledge and outcomes of this workshop were useful and will apply space-based technology in rice crop monitoring and enhancement of rice statistics with timely and high accuracy as operational use in statistical work in the future. Furthermore, the results from this workshop will be reported at the ASEAN Summit in 2024.
On 18 February 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat participated in the international event Google’s “Impact of AI on Global Agriculture,” organized by Google.org at Roseate House, Aerocity, New Delhi, India.
On 12-13 February 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat, in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Japan and the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), Ministry of Agriculture Cooperatives (MOAC), conducted a workshop conducted a workshop The Promoting Rice Planted Area and Production Estimation Using INAHOR and Space-based Technologies in Thailand at the Meeting Room 2, Innovation Building, 3rd FL, Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE)
The In-Country Workshop on Promoting Rice Planted Area and Production Estimation Using Space-based Technologies in Lao PDR was jointly organized by AFSIS Secretariat, JAXA, MAFF Japan, and MAE Lao PDR under the AFSIS-GIS and SAFE projects. The event was held in Vientiane with hands-on training on 9 February 2026 and a workshop on 10 February 2026.
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On 13–15 January 2026, the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), Thailand, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan, and the AFSIS Secretariat, conducted the 1st Meeting of Japan–Thailand Expert Dialogue on Agricultural Statistics. The meeting was held at the Office of Agricultural Economics and field survey activities in Chonburi Province.
