Hadxaifong leads assault on poverty

Vientiane Times, 26 Sep 2009

Rice farming helps the people of Hadxaifong district to better their
standard of living.

With the government working to alleviate basic poverty nationwide by
next year, Hadxaifong district authorities have already moved all
residents above the poverty line by encouraging them to engage in
farming and livestock breeding.

The district continues to develop year by year, helping the government
achieve its aim of removing Laos from the UN's list of least-developed
countries by 2020.

“We constantly try to improve villagers' living conditions and
alleviate poverty,” said district Deputy Governor Khanthaly Phanivong
this week.

Animal husbandry and crop cultivation, especially rice and vegetables,
are the main tools for district officials to improve locals' living
standards.

The district has 16,215 families consisting of 81,215 people. Of these
75 percent are farmers, 10 percent are government or private sector
workers, and 15 percent are labourers.

Mr Khanthaly said average annual income in the district is now about
11 million kip per capita, meaning basic poverty is no longer an
issue.

Although the district has reached poverty mitigation targets, district
officials will continue to encourage residents to boost agricultural
production and sell their crops at markets around Vientiane, including
Suanmon, Thongkhankham and Huakhua markets, Mr Khanthaly said.

The district has 12,417 hectares of land, consisting of 7,500 hectares
of rice fields, 2,300 hectares of vegetable crops and 336 hectares of
commercial crops such as soy beans, cassava and corn, he said.

Farming is the main route for families in the district to improve
their living standards but irregular weather patterns often affect
crop production and are a major setback for farmers.

Mr Khanthaly said that last year about 31,600 residents and more than
4,130 hectares of land in the district were affected by flooding.

The district also experienced flooding in 2002, but not as seriously
as last year. This means district officials have to work hard to
continue development efforts.

Last year, 40 of the district's 60 villages experienced flooding and
numerous people working in agricultural production were affected when
860 hectares of farmland were flooded, he added.

Over the past six or so years the district has developed and
villagers' living conditions have steadily improved, enabling the
district to reach the government's target for poverty alleviation, Mr
Khanthaly said.

Nonghai village in Hadxaifong district worked to alleviate poverty by
supplying interest-free loans to disadvantaged people to invest in
rice farming and livestock breeding, said village Deputy Head Sonephet
Keophadit.

“We also find land for poor people to grow rice and various kinds of
vegetables so they can work to better their living standards.”

Village officials work closely with families in the community to
ensure they are living above the poverty line and that any new
arrivals in the village are able to maintain a good standard of
living.

The 450 Year Road is currently under construction in the district as
part of city authorities' efforts to mark the anniversary of Vientiane
as the capital of Laos in 2010.

A Malaysian company, Universal Pacific Limited, is set to develop an
area in the district's Dongphosy village. The project will include a 3-
star hotel, shopping mall, hospital, bank, public park and duty free
shops.

It is hoped this project will contribute to further development in the
district and provide employment opportunities for local villagers.