Trade fair highlights Laos' blossoming agriculture
Trade fair highlights Laos' blossoming agriculture
A total of 420 booths are displaying agricultural and forestry products at the Lao-ITECC in Xaysettha district, Vientiane, from September 22 to 30.
The event coincides with the 34th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF), and the 12th AMAF+3 meeting, hosted by Laos from September 24-29.
The exhibition and trade fair was officially opened on Thursday by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Vilayvanh Phomkhe, and attended by ASEAN leaders and delegations to the AMAF and AMAF+3 meetings.
Products on display include furniture, food and beverages sourced from agricultural produce, handicrafts, and silk and cotton textiles.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, event committee member Mr Thongphat Vongmany said the purpose of the event is to illustrate the development of Laos' agriculture and forestry sector. It also highlights the Lao government's policies on food security and forest management and protection.
“It also strengthens and enhances the promotion of public and private partnership in commodity production and poverty alleviation,” Mr Thongphat said.
“Participating in this exhibition and trade fair are all the line departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, including some provincial Agriculture and Forestry Offices, a number of Agriculture and Livestock Associations, business entrepreneurs and farmers' groups, as well as other government agencies and development projects.”
To further develop the agriculture and forestry sector, the government has planned comprehensive, integrated methods in accordance with clean agriculture guidelines and processing. The sector will continue to evolve into a modern industry with high potential to ensure food security.
Another focus is on increasing the production efficiency and improving produce quality by applying scientific research and the creation of model families as the primary measure of success.
Protecting and rehabilitating Laos' forests to increase forest cover to maintain its green country status, building more irrigated agriculture projects to increase production output, and improving farmers' production methods are also on the agenda.
By the year 2015, the government hopes to achieve annual rice production of 4.2 million tonnes, forest cover on 65 percent of the country's land, and a 3.5 percent rise in agricultural and forestry production each year to account for 23 percent of the country's total GDP.
vientiane times
