Growing organic vegetables reaps rewards for Pakngum villagers

Mr Vard Souvannakhoumman's family joined the village group of vegetable growers in 2010. He said the business not only enabled his family to eat chemical-free vegetables but brought them in 100 million kip a year. Previously, his family grew rice and he had another job but their income feel short of their expenditure. So the family decided to join the group of organic vegetable growers. The first year he borrowed some money from a bank to set up the smallholding and was able to repay the loan. In the second year, he used his own savings to grow vegetables on a 1.2 hectare plot. Mr Vard said the group has now 111 member families who grow vegetables on 22 hectares. He said the business has given his family a better standard of living, they no longer go hungry, and they earn enough money to pay their bills. 

Information source: Vientiane Times.