Farmers need more markets for sell crops
 
Farmers have urged the government to assist them in finding new markets - both local and overseas – to sell their produce.
The requests were raised during the Lao Farmers Networking Knowledge Fair and General Assembly-2020 which was held over two days in Vientiane.
The event was attended by over 150 participants, including 120 representatives of farmers from across the country, educational institutes, agriculture research centre, international organisations, and government officials.
It was chaired by the Deputy Director General of the Department of Technical Extension and Agro-Processing, Mr Thongsavanh Phanthalavong, and the president of the Lao Farmers Network (LFN), Mr Khammoun Xaymany. This meeting was funded by the LURAS project.
Numerous challenges faced by farmers were aired during the meeting. “We want the government to assist us and extend help to find new markets to sell our produce and to ensure a good price of our produce,” said a participant..
Another issue that was raised was varied tax payments between districts and provinces and the need for a special subsidy for farmers’ electricity bills. “Farmers, especially in rural areas, need support with irrigation systems and spring water to ensure a good yield,” said a representative from LFN.
The event encouraged participants to upgrade their plantation skills. New techniques of agriculture, which reduce the workforce but increase the harvest, as well as special policies for farmers which included 25 issues - such as agricultural techniques named “beautiful wife rice”, policy research on agricultural taxation policy, youth participation strategy, research on fall army worm outbreak in the northern provinces were shared with participants.
Participants discussed the challenges faced by small farmers and the best five-year strategy plan from 2021-2025 of LFN. The event also had booths from national agriculture research centre for and agriculture organisations such as - SAMIS, WOCAT, LURAS, AFN-IFAD, CLEAN project, GAIA VITA.
LFN’s members brought their products, including organic purple rice from Ban Jaeng village of Vientiane province, organic vegetables and crops from Thongmang organic vegetable cooperative, coffee soap and coffee beans from Pakxong district of Champassak province, cooking oil from Xieng khuang province, and others products for display.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update November 13, 2020)