NEW FAO PROJECT LAUNCHED:

Vientiane - An innovative project that aims at strengthening the capacity in animal production and veterinary services in Lao PDR was launched on Friday in Vientiane capital. H.E. Dr. Bounkhouang Khambounheuang Director General of Livestock and Fisheries and Mr. Serge Verniau FAO Representative to Lao PDR spoke at the opening.

“A diversity of animal production, including cattle, buffalo, pigs, poultry and insect, is of crucial importance to the Lao economy, as well as nutrition, food security and income generation of rural communities”, said Mr. Verniau in his opening remarks.

“Capacity development in animal production and veterinary services as well as strengthening data management and analysis will provide a basis for better policy decisions towards animal health management and animal production. This will directly advantage smallholder livestock producers, who often have limited access to veterinary services”, says Mr. Verniau.

“The adoption of environmental animal health management strategies should result in cost effective means of disease management and production. Animal and human health, and the wider environment will benefit.”

Lao PDR is a predominantly rural society with 85% of the population depending on agriculture for their livelihood with most of the rural households producing food mainly for their own consumption. Agriculture accounts for 52% of the gross domestic product (GDP) with livestock and fisheries contributing 18%.

“In Lao PDR, livestock play a prominent role in the rural economy, although most production remains under traditional forms of extensive, low-input management. More than 95% of production is in the hands of smallholders, and in upland and highland areas, sales can account for more than half of household income”, Verniau explains.

The Environmental Animal Health Management for Enhanced Smallholder Production approach of the project combines ecology, epidemiology and farming system studies, which relate to those aspects of animal health and welfare that are determined by agro-ecological, biological, chemical, and physical determinants as well as behavioural factors in the natural and socio-economic environment of animal production. It also refers to the theory and practice of assessing, correcting, controlling and preventing those factors in the natural and social environment of animals that may have undesirable effects on the health of animal and/or human populations.

The two year, USD 1.4 million, Italian Government funded project will explore and advocate for alternative approaches to animal disease management for smallholders. The Sub-regional initiative for enhanced smallholder production in South-East Asia is a two-year project that will also be implemented in the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Philippines, in addition to the Lao PDR.