Saravan farmers bounce back after floods
 
Vientiane Times, 9 Dec 2009
 
Saravan province is encouraging local farmers to grow more fruit trees
and vegetables, especially cassava, for export after many crops were
destroyed by tropical storm Ketsana, said an official from the
Agriculture and Forestry Department.
 
A member of the department's technical staff, Mr Bounsone Keomak, said
on Friday around 700 hectares of cassava were damaged in the storm,
mainly in Sapone, Kangkabao and Nongsano villages, with losses
totalling millions of kip.
 
Last year, the province grew cassava on 35 hectares in Kangkabao
village and on 19 hectares in Nongsano village, as well as on another
300 hectares dispersed over local farms.
 
Mr Bounsone said the province had obtained cassava seeds from the
government, as well as 6,000 kilograms of sweetcorn seeds, worth more
than 160 million kip, which have been distributed to villages.
 
He said villagers hope to grow around 100 hectares of sweetcorn.
 
The authorities are also encouraging additional planting of eucalyptus
and acacia, with funding support from a Hong Kong company, which would
eventually harvest the timber.
 
“We planted more than 9,000 hectares of eucalyptus and acacia last
year, but some of this was affected by the storm,” Mr Bounsone said.
 
The province, in collaboration with the farming sector, has attempted
to attract businesses from both Laos and overseas to invest in rubber
tree plantations in Viengkham and Hangphouyai villages for eventual
export.
 
Two overseas companies have invested in the venture and have completed
the planting of around 300 hectares of rubber trees, and are looking
for other suitable areas to grow the trees.
 
Saravan's greatest farming success has been the thriving crops of
rice, fruit and vegetables grown in four model villages in Saravan
district. About 95 households in Naxay village produced 83 hectares of
rice, 10 households in Naxaynoy village cultivated 3.5 hectares of
sweetcorn, while 48 households in Tone and Donkhao villages planted
12.4 hectares of fruit trees and vegetables.
 
Mr Bounsone said despite suffering severe damage from tropical storm
Ketsana, Saravan province is still attracting the interest of
international investors keen to explore business opportunities, both
from neighbouring countries and further afield.