![]() She also gives back to her community, and eagerly shares what she's learned with other farmers. Maila has traveled to Thailand to study organic farming. Her two hectares of land hold a paddy field, fish pond, and three greenhouses filled with organic vegetables, coriander, dill, green mustard, and lettuce. Maila, a 42-year-old greenhouse and organic vegetable grower from Meaungkwuan village, in Houaphan Province, joined the UNODC-EU project in 2011. Keophomisay now manages the Korlou VSCG, which has grown from 32 to 52 members (including 23 women), and has 78.8 million kip (USD 9,892) in the project fund - over 18.8 million kip (USD 2,384) of it interest earned from member savings. "More than enough to feed my family through the rainy season - I was even able to sell an additional 100 kg of Chinese cabbage!" ![]() Upon his return, he joined a project initiative to grow rainy season vegetables. He also attended farming and livestock-raising training under the project, which sent him to observe and study vegetable-growing techniques in Oudomxai province greenhouses. In 2012, he earned 6.23 million kip (USD 790) from livestock sales alone. Keophomisay used its micro-credit facility to borrow 5 million kip (USD 634) to buy and raise cows, pigs, chicken and ducks. Disease constantly killed his livestock.Īfter UNODC and the EU established a VSCG in his village in June 2011, Mr. Seetha Keophomisay, the village chief, could not afford to send his children to school or grow enough rice to feed his family. This helps communities sustain opium elimination, and reduces the risk of organised criminal networks targeting vulnerable communities. We own two motorcycles and a rice mill - and even have solar electricity in our house!"Ī key element of UNODC's community centered alternative development strategy is strengthening local authorities. I can buy medicine, food, and clothing for my family. "Now, thanks to my flute business, my children go to school. "Before the UNODC loan, I struggled to provide for my eight children," Mr. In 2012, he borrowed 1.5 million kips (USD 190) to continue making Hmong flutes, and expects a profit of 1.7 million kips (USD 216). His family can eat rice all year and raises livestock. Then he borrowed 500,000 kips (USD 63) from the project's village saving and credit group (VSCG) - a micro credit fund - and began making and selling Hmong flutes. ![]() ![]() Tongyear Thor, was one of the poorest farmers in Naphadeng village, Xamtai district, when the UNODC-EU project began. Providing micro credit is a key part of UNODC-EU support to small farmers. Through sustained, targeted interventions to increase food security, build infrastructure, promote licit crop production and support small farmer enterprises, the UNODC-EU alternative development project is making a real difference for the people and communities of Houphan. The Lao Government estimates that in 2012 up to 38,400 households - many in remote communities - were associated with the cultivation of opium poppy, a significant increase from 2011 figures (8,300 to 20,000 households).īegun in early 2011, a four-year joint UNODC-European Union (EU) alternative development effort aims to support Lao Government efforts to ensure the sustainable elimination of opium poppy cultivation in 35 former opium poppy growing villages in Houaphan province's Xamtai District. The absence of alternative sources of income and licit livelihoods, poor access to markets and schools, and the high price of opium make its cultivation attractive to farmers. South-East Asia Opium Survery 2012 - Lao PDR, Myanmar. The bulk of Lao PDR's opium cultivation - which largely supplies local users - occurs in four northern provinces near the country's borders with Myanmar, China and Viet Nam: Phongsali, Louang Namtha, Houaphan and Lounangphrabang, according to the UNODC report, Houphan (Lao PDR), 22 October 2013 - Since being declared virtually opium free in 2006, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) has seen opium poppy cultivation rise to 6,800 hectares (ha) in 2012, a 66 per cent increase from 2011 - and nearly back to 2004 cultivation levels. More about Alternative Development and Sustainable Livelihoods > Alternative Livelihoodsīringing hope to former opium-growing Laos communities.South-East Asia Opium Survery 2012 - Lao PDR, Myanmar.
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