Rice growers eye higher yields with donation of farming equipment
Ten rice grower groups in Vientiane’s Hadxaifong, Xaythany and Pakngum districts will be able to grow more rice and cut production costs after receiving tractors and rice harvesters under the Lao Agriculture Competitiveness Project.
The project is funded by the International Development Association and the Lao government and runs for six years from 2018 to 2024.
The initiative is executed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Agricultural and Forestry Offices in Khammuan, Borikhamxay, Xayaboury, and Vientiane provinces, as well as the capital.
Eight tractors and two rice harvesting machines were handed over to rice grower group representatives on Friday. The equipment was handed over by the Vice Mayor of Vientiane, Mr Atsaphangthong Siphandone, Head of the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department, Dr Lasay Nuanthasing, and project representative Mr Sonexay Komxaysana.
Speaking at the event, Dr Lasay said “This is the first donation of equipment under the Lao Agriculture Competitiveness Project, which is providing US$16,000 for each group while each farmers’ group will contribute US$4,000.
“The project can provide a maximum of US$160,000 for each rice grower group.” Twelve groups requested funding from the project. Ten had their proposals approved, but two more must provide more information before a donation can be approved.
Funding is being allocated to growers’ groups in Nalong, Thinthaen and Nongheo in Hadxaifong district, and to groups in Phoukham, Thasavang, and Hadviengkham in Xaythany district. Four groups in Pakngum district’s Thadeuasinghom, Phao, Marnaotai and Nakoung are also receiving funding.
There are 63 farmers’ groups in Vientiane excluding 17 vegetable growers’ groups, that will be eligible for future assistance. Last month, the project handed over seven tractors to seed propagation groups in Thoulakhom district, Vientiane province. Equipment was also provided to the NAFRI-Rice Research Centre and NAFRI-Horticulture Research Centre in July for use in promoting the cultivation of quality seed varieties. The goal of the project is to increase the competitiveness of selected agricultural value chains in the project areas.
The scheme comprises four components, namely improved agricultural efficiency and sustainability, enhanced agricultural commercialisation, project management, and contingent emergency response.