Freshly harvested sustainable rice paddy being collected in Makhiew village.

LBC Sustainable Rice Farming Project Reaches Milestone: 2,500 Tonnes of Sustainable Paddy Harvested

Lao Brewery Company (LBC), led by its CA, CSR & Sustainability Director, Mr Sithixay Ketthavong, hosted a media visit to monitor the harvest of their wet season rice crop at the Sustainable Rice Farming Project in Makhiew village, Pak Ngum district, Vientiane, on November 22.
This year, the project successfully expanded its total cultivation area to over 900 hectares, mobilising more than 400 farmer families and yielding an estimated 2,500 tonnes of paddy.

Mr Sithixay Ketthavong monitors the wet season rice harvest in Makhiew village.	The integrated duck-rice cultivation model significantly removes weeds and pests from organic plots.

The specific 15-hectare plot in Makhiew village is dedicated to organic cultivation, supplying raw materials for LBC’s Beerlao Green.
However, this year, the field faced natural flooding that damaged seven hectares, leaving only eight hectares to be successfully harvested with a yield of 15 tonnes.
During this season, the project trialled a new biological control method by breeding 2,000 young ducks. Once they reached the appropriate age, they were released into the paddy fields to control weeds and various pests.
This integrated duck-rice cultivation model significantly reduced the labour and time required for weed removal compared to previous seasons. The approach proved highly effective, as evidenced by the dense, well-filled rice panicles and the complete absence of weeds in the areas where the ducks foraged.
This trial successfully reinforces the principles of organic rice production.
The project has established a circular system for resource use. In the duck coops, workers lay down rice husks, a byproduct from the site’s harvest, as bedding.

Combine harvesting the golden paddy at the LBC Sustainable Rice Farming Project in Pak Ngum district.	High-quality composted duck manure being applied as the base fertiliser for the upcoming dry season rice crop.

Once mixed with duck manure, this material is collected and composted.
This high-quality, composted duck manure is now being used as the base fertiliser for the upcoming dry season rice crop.
CA, CSR & Sustainability Director Mr Sithixay Ketthavong provided this insight to the media.
Moving forward, the project plans to prepare farmer groups by adjusting the production area to 600 hectares to enhance control over quality and meet GAP and organic agriculture standards.
The strategy will involve expanding the use of the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) rice cultivation method, which is environmentally friendly.
The company aims to restructure and focus on creating greater biodiversity in the rice fields and building a sustainable future for the participating farmer groups. These efforts are guided by LBC’s six strategic pillars, ensuring alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and helping LBC achieve its overarching Together Towards Zero & Beyond (TTZAB) objectives.

By Advertorial Desk
(Latest Update November 26, 2025)