PM advises Phongsaly folk to grow more crops

Residents of Nhot-ou district in Phongsaly province are growing more rice and other crops in line with government advice as well as raising livestock for sale to ease their poverty and improve their quality of life. 

Dr Sonexay Siphandone visits Phongsaly province on Sunday. --Photo Pathetlao

The general situation in the province was reported to Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and other officials when they paid a working visit to Phongsaly on Sunday to learn about developments in Nhot-ou district.
They were received by the Governor of Phongsaly province, Mr Khamphoy Vannasane, and district and provincial officials.
Dr Sonexay recommended the cultivation of more crops on a more organised basis, saying the farming of commercial crops and cattle and the planting of more trees would be a better substitute for the cultivation of opium poppies. 
He advised local officials to step up development and road construction and to allocate land for specific uses.
Provincial officials should stimulate agriculture and forestry, work to raise more people out of poverty and increase the rate of development, the Prime Minister said.
Provincial authorities should improve infrastructure and overhaul their planning and budgeting methods, as well as encourage more investment in the province.
Authorities were also advised to improve services at the international Lantouy border crossing with China.
Officials from the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Public Works and Transport inspected service fees and the processing of vehicles crossing the border and held talks with local authorities on the various problems that had been encountered.   
The Governor of Yoth-ou district, Mr Somvang Soumvilay, reported on the progress made in social and economic development in the district, which is in the far north of Laos and is 93 kilometres from the provincial capital.
The district covers 3,105 square kilometres. Some 97 percent of the land is mountainous and 65 percent is forested.
Provincial authorities are working to improve crop cultivation and yields, as well as the farming of livestock and the provision of services.
The district has 22 villages, where 52.73 percent of families have risen above the poverty line and 11.54 percent of families have been described as developing.     
Mr Somvang spoke of the need to pave roads with asphalt, build more roads and embankments, improve the water supply, build a bridge across the Ou River, install more irrigation, and make other infrastructural improvements. 
An official from the international Lantouy border crossing reported on developments at the crossing, which opened in 1989 and connects to China. 
On Monday, the Prime Minister and his officials visited Phongsaly district where they met with residents of Nongkinnaly village, which contains 119 houses and 534 people.
All families moved out of Komenmay village when they were displaced by the Ou River electricity project. 

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update November 29, 2023)