Officials join young agripreneurs for a photo at the competition in Luang Prabang.

Empowering Laos’ Youth: 91 Agripreneurs Transforming the Future of Farming

Agriculture in northern Laos is being transformed through the Incubating Young Agripreneurs (IYA) programme, by helping young people transition from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.
This initiative, led by Wonders International, a South Korean NGO, and funded by the Babonanum Foundation, equips young participants with entrepreneurial skills and provides hands-on support to launch their own agribusinesses.
In northern Laos, sustainable income opportunities remain scarce, with many young people engaged in subsistence farming, particularly rice cultivation. The IYA programme seeks to overcome these challenges by fostering entrepreneurship and equipping participants with the tools needed to establish thriving agribusinesses.
In 2024, the programme trained 91 young people in two phases, partnering with the Laos-Korea Business Incubating Centre (LKBIC), Souphanouvong University, and the Viengkham District Agriculture and Forestry Office.
The training encompassed critical areas such as market demand analysis, product development, marketing, and financial management, with a strong emphasis on practical learning and innovation.
A highlight of the training was the Young Agripreneurs Idea Competition, which encouraged participants to develop creative and marketable business ideas.
Five standout projects were selected: mint tea, banana powder, Luang Prabang aroma candles, organic snail farming, and bamboo shoot processing.
After the competition, the programme continued to mentor and support these teams, enabling them to finalise their prototypes. Today, all five projects have launched their products and are actively selling them in the market.
The IYA programme aims not only to create stable income opportunities for Lao people, but also to inspire them to embrace challenges, seize new opportunities, and cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets.
By extending its support beyond short-term training, the programme strives to amplify its impact, empowering more aspiring agripreneurs to drive positive change in their communities.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update January 8, 2025)