Laos boosts agricultural development as key to combatting poverty
VIENTIANE: Laos continues its efforts to combat poverty by improving rural living conditions and lifting communities out of hardship, with a strong emphasis on agricultural development.
In an interview with Xinhua, Anosack Phengthimmavong, deputy director general of the Department of Rural Development and Cooperatives under the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, emphasised that the majority of Laos' population is farmers, forming the backbone of the nation, which makes agricultural development crucial for improving their livelihoods.
"Laos remains a country facing many challenges, with many people still living in poverty," said Anosack.
"Farmers struggle with production due to insufficient knowledge, inadequate skills and scattered farming practices. These issues contribute to the ongoing poverty in rural communities," he added.
Anosack highlighted that agricultural development is crucial for improving livelihoods and reducing poverty. By boosting and sustaining agricultural productivity, farmers can earn better incomes, ultimately lifting their families out of poverty.
Khemma Vongkhamphanh, deputy village chief of Tha Dok Kham village in Lao capital Vientiane, said villagers are now growing more vegetables alongside their rice crops and are focused on developing clean, sustainable agricultural practices to boost their income and improve living conditions.
Several projects focused on infrastructure development and boosting agricultural production in rural areas were launched, supporting the Lao government's poverty reduction efforts by improving living standards, promoting diverse agricultural production and increasing farmers' incomes, contributing to long-term poverty alleviation.
Thidalat, a resident of the Lao capital Vientiane, expressed her support for the Lao government's efforts to reduce poverty. She believes it is important to continue working with development partners and to implement more projects focused on sustainable agriculture, education, and healthcare. Thidalat remains hopeful that people's living standards will improve and that the country will grow stronger in the future.
Laos has successfully lifted 31,232 families out of poverty, reaching 89.23 per cent of its target for 2024. The Lao government is seeking to graduate from least developed country status by 2026. - Xinhua
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