Good agricultural practices not only help raise farmers’ income, but improve people’s health

Khamphou Phanthaboun who farms at Nonetae Village, Xaythany district 20 KM south from Vientiane, used to rely on pesticides to grow vegetables in the mid-1990s, but he still struggled to earn a living from his vegetable farm. He was in debt from time to time. He grew only one kind of vegetable and relied on a middleman to buy his yields. He had to borrow money while waiting for the harvest. Without any higher education, raising his five children was not an easy task. Like the majority of Lao people, Khamphou and his wife depend mainly on agriculture to survive. In 1998, Khamphou joined a farmer field school in his community. For the first time, he was able to learn what it takes to grow a healthy crop. “Since I joined the program, I knew how to rotate crops. I learned about the pests’ lifecycle and how to identify them. I learnt new skills and techniques to manage them while avoiding the use of chemicals,” said Khamphou. After the training, he continued to grow various kinds of vegetables including lettuce, cabbage, beetroots and celery and rotated them accordingly. “These allowed me to gain higher yields and I am no longer in debt,” he added.

Through the Integrated Pest Management program, FAO introduced the farmer field school approach in Laos in 1996 to support the development of pest management in rice and vegetables. The approach uses experimental learning to help farmers make decisions and find answers for themselves. In recent years, the program has also helped Lao farmers on managing pests and diseases on fruits, coconut and cassava. “Lao farmers need such field schools,” says Dr Monthathip Chanphengxay, Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. “Most Lao farmers did not have any vocational or higher education on farming. This approach helps farmers search for the problems in their own farm, understand the crops’ ecosystems to sustainably manage pests and develop solutions to their own problems.” Now, FAO continues to support the National IPM Programme within the scope of a longer-term Regional Programme aimed at strengthening management of agricultural chemicals in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. The activities include training of trainers and farmers training on IPM and pesticide risk reduction. Since the introduction of the IPM programme, almost 24,000 farmers (including 3401 women) in 801 communities of nine provinces including Vientiane Capital, Bokeo, Luang Prabang, Louang Namtha, Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Sayabouly, Xiengkhouang and Vientiane Province have participated in training and formulation of community action plans for pesticide risk reduction. “The farmers can share their skills and knowledge and incorporating them into their farming activities,” said Johannes Ketelaar, Chief Technical Advisor of FAO's Regional IPM Program. 

Sounan Heuangpaseuth is another farmer living at Donxingxu village, in Vientiane who joined the program in 2000. He says the knowledge he gained at the farmer field school is very valuable and it changed the way he farms. “The approach is perfect for me. I learned how to grow crops, to monitor and manage pests. I also knew how to make organic composts from animal waste and herbal insecticide. Pesticide is the last option,” Sounan explained. With know-how in farming, he can produce safe vegetables for the markets and increase his yields. He is now growing white eggplants and betel leaves which are sold to Green Veg Company for exporting to Europe. He has signed a contract with the company since 2013. In an area of 1600 square meter, he has earned a consistent income of more than 5 million Kip a month. Sounan still uses chemicals but at minimal level to make sure that his produce meets Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Therefore his white eggplants are qualified for exporting to Europe.

For Khamphou, with his increased technical capacity from the field school program, he decided to abandon the use of chemicals on his farm. He later joined an organic farming project in 2003. He believes that organic farming can provide him with better income and it is a good thing for a farmer to do. Khamphou is now the Head of Organic Farmer Group and one member of the committees managing Vientiane's thriving That Louang organic market. Khamphou and his family sell their vegetables four days a week in organic markets. He earns at least 1 million Kip a week. 

Like Sounan and Khamphou, many farmers who took part in the farmer school fields decided to reduce pesticides or no longer use them. They realized the danger of it and they can feel it by themselves. “Before, I had no skills how to use chemicals—I used them all the times. I always got headaches, felt dizzy and tired after spraying pesticides,” Khamphou says. “I didn’t dare to pick the vegetables from the garden for eating. We had a separate plot that we didn't spray for our own consumption,” he adds. Organic farming completely changed his life and his attitude toward other people’s lives too. “Since I no longer use pesticides, I am much healthier. Now, I can just pick up any vegetable from my farm. Following good agricultural practices helps everyone and it is also friendly for the environment and living species. We all depend on each other”,  he explained. 

Khamphou is also concerned about those farmers who still use pesticides with little knowledge about them. “Pesticides are poisonous. People who have contact with these chemicals either through skin contact or breathing can all get sick,” he says. During the one-month training, both Khamphou and Sounan also trained to become a farmer field school facilitator. They taught other farmers in their communities and others to find solutions by themselves to farming problems. “I am proud to become one of the trainers to share my knowledge with other farmers from different places and provinces. I am happy to be part of making those farmers improve their yields as well.” Khamphou said. 

Even though many farmers and participants of the field schools including Khamphou never even finished high school, they have opportunities to train others and conduct their own research, manage and sell their own crops. The knowledge was spreading. Khamphou and Sounan have become respected farming facilitators in their communities.

Both of them are equipped with these fundamental farming skills that they can replicate throughout their farming career. Both are proud to say that they are happy with their career. They both can support their children to study at vocational and university level. They feel more financially secure, healthier and happier than ever before. “As a farmer, I am happy and proud to be part of the training and contribute to good agricultural practices in Laos. I wish other farmers who joined the program will do the same and produce good and safe vegetables for Lao society.” Sounan says. 

Information source: FAO.