The European Union has granted more than 10 billion kip (US$1.6 million) for a project to improve water supplies and diversify crop and livestock enterprises in 17 villages of Hongsa and Xienghone districts in Xayaboury province.
Dr Keedaeng Thammalangsy ( left ) shakes hands with Mr David Boisson after signing the agreement.
The agreement was concluded at a ceremony in Vientiane yesterday between the Secretary General of the Lao Red Cross Dr Keedaeng Thammalangsy and the Chief of the French Red Cross Mr David Boisson.
The EU and the French Red Cross are jointly funding the project, with the EU contributing 90 percent of the funding and the French Red Cross 10 percent. The project will run over a three year period from 2012-2015.
The project facilitators will set up a number of research sites in order to conduct a thorough analysis of available local water resources and soil fertility.
Afterwards they will establish community-based water supply systems such as bore holes, dams and rain harvesting systems through a participatory approach where the needs of local villagers are taken into account.
Once better water supplies have been established, the project organisers will support initiatives to diversify the variety of crops grown by local villagers, as well as encourage more livestock, poultry and fish breeding ventures to try to provide more reliable incomes in the future.
There will also be technical training provided for field staff and farmers, efforts to identify market opportunities for local produce, as well as an organic produce initiative.
Dr Keedaeng said the project will support agricultural production and improve the livelihoods of 1,300 rural poor families or around 8,000 people through crop diversification and better access to markets.
Hongsa and Xienghone districts are in a mountainous region in the north of Xayaboury province, and much of the land in the districts is marginal in terms of cropping potential, and there are serious constraints to agricultural production.
The main causes of food shortages and malnutrition in the region are the inability to produce enough food due to inadequate water supplies, insufficient cash reserves, poor access to services, and a lack of understanding about the issues surrounding health and nutrition.
A high dependence on rain fed cropping puts land holders very much at the mercy of the weather and improving the reliability and capacity of water supply systems will go a long way in terms of allowing villagers to diversify their crop and livestock enterprises.
The project will be administered by the Lao Red Cross, which has been working in conjunction with the French Red Cross in Xayaboury province for a number of years. They will liaise with Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry water and irrigation experts on technical issues.
The project will contribute significantly to the development of remote areas in Xayaboury, and ensure food security in future years, Mr Boisson said.
