Organic vegetable growers get SEA Games certification
 
Vientiane Times, 8 Dec 2009
 
A group of 39 organic vegetable growers on Saturday received
certification for their produce grown in Nontae village, Xaythany
district, for supply to athletes and spectators attending the SEA
Games.
 
The certificates were presented by Xaythany district Agriculture and
Forestry Office Deputy Head Thongsouk Bouarikhan and Vientiane
Agriculture Section Director Dr Lasay Nouanthasing, at a ceremony
attended by Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department Deputy
Director Khamsing Khounsavanh.
 
Vientiane has about 111 families in eight groups who work in five
districts to grow organic vegetables on 41 hectares, group member Mr
Khamphou Phanthaboun said.
 
This month the groups will produce about 29 tonnes of organic
vegetables including lettuce, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, beans, onions,
melons, chervil and tomatoes. Each dry season they produce about 94
tonnes, he said.
 
This amount will supply all the vegetables required by Lao World
Company for supply during the SEA Games, which run from December 9 to
18. About 10 tonnes in total or one tonne of vegetables a day are
needed, but not all of the vegetables can be supplied.
 
The groups will also supply about 1,200 kg of fruit such as bananas
and sapodilla, said Mr Khamphou.
 
It's important to provide organic vegetables for athletes staying in
the SEA Games Village and for spectators, said Dr Lasay.
 
Although local growers cannot supply produce for everyone, they were
doing a good job in trying to meet demand and doing their bit for the
SEA Games, he said.
 
He asked all members to try to increase the land on which they were
growing crops because of the high market demand. He hoped organic
farmers would earn more for their efforts so they could improve their
living conditions and become wealthy in the future.
 
During the SEA Games the members of each group will reap the benefit
from selling large amounts of vegetables.
 
“One thing we should pay more attention to during the SEA Games is
packaging. This is one area that needs improvement and some producers
still lack responsibility in taking care of this aspect. We also need
to take better care of produce in the rainy season,” Dr Lasay said.
 
Each group should try to raise their farming standards to match those
of other countries so they could become recognised within the
industry, he said.
 
Dr Lasay said he thought group members who received certificates would
be models for other families and would contribute to the growth of
organic vegetable farming in Laos .