LBC agrees to buy Khao Kai Noi from Xieng Khuang, Huaphan provinces
LBC agrees to buy Khao Kai Noi from Xieng Khuang, Huaphan provinces
The Lao Brewery Company (LBC) has agreed to buy 800 tonnes per year of Khao Kai Noi rice from Xieng Khuang and Huaphan provinces for its new beer brew.
The agreement was signed on April 11 in Xieng Khuang province and was witnessed by Governor Prof. Dr Somkot Mangnomek along with local government officials and staff of LBC.
According to the agreement, LBC will buy 800 tonnes of Khao Kai Noi every year for the production of its new Beerlao Gold brand. The price of Khao Kai Noi rice will include the delivery charge and value added tax at a cost of 8,030 kip per kg.
The Khao Kai Noi rice will be supplied by the Xieng Khuang State Enterprise Import-Export and De velopment.
Xieng Khuang provincial Deputy Governor Brigadier General Dr Seumsouk Simphavong said during the signing ceremony, “The agreement signed with LBC today will be to encourage farmers in Xieng Khuang and Huaphan provinces to grow more Khao Kai Noi rice,”
“We have identified Khao Kai Noi rice as one of the 12 main products of our province.
“From now on, farmers in our province will have a certain market to sell their rice in and we are confident in being able to provide more than the agreed amount of the best quality rice to LBC,” he said.
In Xieng Khuang province, more than 11,000 hectares are dedicated to the cultivation of Khao Kai Noi rice, along with another 6,000 hectares in Huaphan which represents 50 percent of the rice growing land in the region.
Xieng Khuang alone can produce around 39,000 tonnes per year of Khao Kai Noi and now the province is also exporting the product to Vietnam and China at more than 10,000 tonnes per year.
According to Xieng Khuang provincial authority, Khao Kai Noi rice can be grown only in cold weather. If it is in a hot area the quality of rice is very low.
LBC Senior Deputy Managing Director, Mr Sounthone Phommachack said, “This is the first year our company will buy Khao Kai Noi rice from Xieng Khuang and Huaphan provinces to brew Beerlao Gold, a new brand of LBC. If our Beerlao Gold can meet the target market then we will increase the buying amount of Khao Kai Noi rice more and more,”
“We wish to assist Xieng Khuang and Huaphan provinces to promote Khao Kai Noi rice planting by supporting them with a Khao Kai Noi rice seed research centre and organise a farmer's association,” Mr Sounthone said.
“We are also planning to support the provincial authorities to organise a Khao Kai Noi rice festival because it is another way to encourage farmers and promote Khao Kai Noi to local and overseas markets,” he added.
LBC products now account for a 99 percent share of the domestic beverage market and Beerlao is exported to more than 20 countries around the world.
vientiane times
