Khao Kataven gets national ODOP recognition
Khao Kataven gets national ODOP recognition
The Trade and Product Promotion Department of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce last week formally unveiled a national ‘One District, One Product' (ODOP) plaque for the Khao Kataven (‘Sun' brand rice) product in Nasiew village, Naxaithong district, Vientiane.
Naxaithong is the third district in Vientiane to be recognised in this way, after Sisattanak and Chanthabouly.
Khao Kataven is produced by the Khamphengphet Chengsawang Import-Export Co., Ltd.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by the Vice Mayor of Vientiane, Mr Somvandy Nathavong, Naxaithong district Governor, Mr Bounthong Phommachanh, and the Director General of the Trade and Product Promotion Department, Mr Somvang Ninthavong. Also present were officials from the agriculture and forestry, and industry and commerce sectors, and local authorities.
The company started as a rice milling business in 1983, when it was a small family business servicing the requirements of the local community and milling some 2-3 tonnes a day, company President Mr Khamphengphet Chengsawang said at the ceremony.
In 1990 the mill expanded its capacity to process between 5 and10 tonnes a day after experiencing a high demand from its customers.
One year later the company again expanded its output, incorporating more complex technology to the point where it could mill 50 tonnes of rice per day, with the advanced machinery able to differentiate between sticky and white rice.
In 2006 Mr Khamphengphet saw that the business was running well so he made it a registered company.
Most of the r ice the company processes comes from its own crops, which are grown on about 50 hectares of land. Some is grown by local farmers who have become members of the company within the same or neighbouring districts in Vientiane.
In 2010 the company further developed to ensure a consistently high product quality that was well packaged and presented, as their markets were expanding to other provinces.
The company also moved into other farming related activities such as the breeding of goats, cattle, fish and ducks.
T he advancement of its production process was also a management intention to move into higher technology and away from traditional methods of milling, in line with the government's policy to help with poverty reduction in the country.
At the unveiling ceremony, Mr Bounthong said the farming community comprised about 75 percent of the district's population, with most people still growing crops using traditional methods.
He promised that district authorities will try to encourage farmers to upgrade their methods in order to generate bigger and better harvests and will engage in discussions with them to see what help the authorities can extend.
The Trade and Product Promotion Department will also continue to encourage other districts in Vientiane to gain ODOP recognition, as well as other provinces.
On the same occasion, officials announced the launch of the Vientiane Rice Mill Association, based at the company, with participation from rice millers from different districts.
vientiane times
