The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in cooperation with the Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, conducted a visit to Luang Prabang Province in mid-August.
The joint mission was led by Dr. Phommy Inthichack, Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Mr. Nasar Hayat, FAO Representative to the Lao PDR. The mission was hosted by Mr. Bounmy Savath, Deputy Director of Luang Prabang Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office.
This visit was organized within the framework of “The project for the Assistance for Smallholders and Socially Vulnerable to Preventing Spread of the COVID-19 in the Lao PDR”. The objective of this project is to enhance capacities to prevent COVID-19 spread and mitigate its socio-economic impacts of the vulnerable smallholders and local authorities in Luang Prabang and Oudomxay Provinces in the Lao PDR.
Among other activities this project supports vulnerable households improve income through cash for work to improve resilient agricultural assets and natural resources management. During the mission a visit to pipe culvert construction site at Houay Seng Village in Chomphet District in Luang Prabang.
At the construction site, during the meeting with the village leader and representative of Department of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Nasar Hayat noted the pipe culvert construction at Houay Seng Village will enable easier access of the farmers to agricultural land and easier distribution of their products to the markets. In addition, he added that the pipe culvert, once completed will also enable easer commuting of the villagers with district administrative center.
At the concluding day of the mission, Mr. Nasar Hayat met Ms. Siliphone Souphanthong, Vice Governor of Luang Prabang Province. Initially, Mr. Nasar Hayat provided a brief overview of mission objective and elaborated on the main outcomes of the disaster risk reduction activities. Latter at the meeting a focus of discussion was given to the activities that target small-scale farmers in the northern part of Laos, namely Oudomxay and Luang Prabang Province.
Ms. Siliphone Souphanthong, welcomed the mission members and expressed her appreciation of the support provided by FAO throughout the years. She stated that FAO’s activities are progressing well and that the activities in the field, are in line with the 5-year Socio-Economic Development Plan of Luang Prabang Province.
Source: Lao News Agency
