Resettlement a challenge for poverty reduction in Vientiane province

Vientiane Times, 22 Feb 2010

Vientiane province authorities expect the number of poor families to
rise with the resettlement of people from other provinces.

The province will find it difficult to reach their target as set by
the government's poverty reduction plan for 2015, said the provincial
Planning and Investment Department Director, Ms Singkham Khongsavanh.

Last year Vientiane province had about 6,000 poor families but some
families are moving in from other provinces, especially Luang Prabang
and Huaphan.

Most families made the decision to move in hope of better living
conditions, said Ms Singkham. Despite this, it is still the
responsibility of provincial authorities to deal with the issue.

This year the province planned to reduce the number of poor families
by 3,500 but they cannot say if that figure will be achieved, she
said.The provincial authorities are building basic infrastructure,
particularly roads, electricity and clean water connections, and
improving access to public health and education.

“But the most important thing is to encourage poor families to grow
commercial crops to earn money,” Ms Singkham said.

This year the provincial authorities also planned to encourage farmers
to produce up to 300,000 tonnes of paddy rice, an average of about 630
kg per person.

Authorities also want an increase in other agricultural products of
7.8 percent, or an increase of nearly 45 percent in provincial gross
production, she said.

Ms Singkham said that to reach the planned targets provincial
authorities at all levels should take on greater responsibility and
enthusiasm for socio-economic development.

They should have good management plans and policies for encouraging
people to participate in developing the province. The provincial
authorities should also work more closely with domestic and foreign
organisations to seek funding assistance, loans, and support from
experts and technology to build up the province, she added.

Despite the impact on the province last year of the economic downturn
and natural disasters, provincial leaders and local authorities were
still able to improve economic growth.