Vientiane Times

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and other senior government officials yesterday visited Vientiane province as the government aims to encourage more effective livestock breeding and organic vegetable projects in the province.

As part of the government¡¯s effort to alleviate poverty through sustainable rural development, several agricultural and cattle feeding projects are now currently being carried out in the province.
Various agriculture pilot projects are based on the Korean model of Saemaul Undong, a participatory approach to rural community-building introduced in the 1970s.

Saemaul Undong, a Korea Institute for Rural Development, is supporting an integrated rural development project, which is linked to the overall initiative and Lao rural development policy.

Prior to departing for Vientiane province, PM Thongloun made a visit to the Saemaul Training Centre in Xaythany district, Vientiane to hear about progress of its construction which is now over 90 percent complete.

The centre will aim at enhancing capacities of officials and village leaders on the Seamaul Undong approach, and training of farmers through demonstration farms.

The centre was established under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, with support from the government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Following that, the Prime Minister and other government officials visited the Lao PDR Energy Efficient Data Centre supported by the government of Japan, established under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Shortly after visiting several sites in Vientiane, PM Thongloun also made his way to Hadxay village in Thoulakhom district, Vientiane province where the Saemaul Undong initiative is being implemented in Laos by an INGO.

In the village, the project has been helping farmers to grow organic vegetables in a shade house along with infrastructure and environment improvements since 2009.

In addition, PM Thongloun¡¯s government delegation visited a cattle breeding project at Thinyoung village, Viengkham district which is also supported by the government of the Republic of Korea through KOICA.

Furthermore, a short visit was made to a rattan furniture factory in Viengkham district and handicraft groups in Nayang village, Phonhong district, Vientiane province which aim to promote local businesses and encourage improvements to household incomes.

At Aekxang village in Phonhong district, Vientiane province, a similar project to boost integrated rural development is also being implemented.

Ongoing activities at this village include improvements to infrastructure, the promotion of a shade house organic vegetable project as well as building a community fresh market.

During his site visit the Prime Minister called on local Vientiane province authorities and other parties to ensure farmers¡¯ produce had viable markets as well as ensuring the sustainability of projects so they could continue even after outside assistance had ceased.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update June 21, 2017)