Deputy PM pushes for productivity in Xayaboury
Deputy PM pushes for productivity in Xayaboury
Re-planting of crops damaged by the recent drought has become the priority for Xayaboury provincial authorities to ensure production met the set target.
Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs Mr Somsavat Lengsavad visited the province last week as part of a tour to push for productivity in the northern region.
He congratulated provincial authorities for their efforts in minimising the impact of the severe drought last month which has affected about 7,000 hectares of crops grown in the province. Of the total figure, over 3,000 hectares have been significantly damaged.
The crops affected by drought include rice seedlings, sweet-corn and job's tear fruit; meanwhile provincial authorities have prepared 8 tonnes of crop seeds including rice for distribution to farmers.
Farmers in the province are now enjoying transplanting their rice following several days of rain last week.
Currently about 70 percent of rice fields in the province have been transplanted and despite the delay in crop preparations, the provincial authorities set the rice yield target at 200,000 tonnes this year.
The Deputy PM instructed local authorities to apply modern techniques and technology to improve productivity and yields for domestic supply and export.
The utility of modern technology could enhance effectiveness and efficiency by reducing the number of labour hours and production costs.
The province was asked to set up a model of production groups that applied technology to productivity, aiming to generate more income for local farmers.
Mr Somsavat gave advice to the provincial authorities to study which crops best suited different kinds of land and the market demand for the crops. Growing too many of a particular type of crop could drive the price down.
He observed that the Chinese market was still demanding cattle, moringa and noni. Other markets also had good demand for other crops but authorities needed to help farmers select which crops best met market needs.
Meanwhile, the Xayaboury provincial Department of Commerce and Industry needed to study how to attract factory investment to process crops grown by local farmers.
Xayaboury is a province located in northern Laos with a long tradition of growing crops for market, particularly sweet-corn.
Road access between Vientiane and the province has dramatically improved, enabling farmers to have better access to markets.
