During their three-month training period, participants:

- customized existing forecasting software to their country's specific situation using both historical and current agronomic, meteorological and satellite data; and

- learned how to produce rice yield forecasts with the "CM Box".

The four national experts:

- acquired new knowledge and skills in using various tools for agro-meteorological crop monitoring and forecasting;and

- developed a systematic computer modelling approach based on their review of various technical parameters, aimed at producing a more consistent and quantitative assessment of weather impact on crop yields.

FAO Headquarters, Rome

Four technical officers, two agro-meteorologists and two agricultural statisticians, from national institutions in Cambodia and the Lao PDR .

Cambodia Team

Ms. Chhun Sokunth, Dept. of Meteorology, Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM)

Mr. Men Sothy, Vice Chief of Statistics Office, Dept. of Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Lao PDR Team

Ms Vivanh Souvannamethy, Deputy Chief of Statistics Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)

Trainees gained experience in:

- operating the CM Box; and
- customizing the CM Box to national conditions, including accounting for administrative units and available data;