Micro-credit for disadvantaged farmers in Laos

A team of four SEDA staff traveled south this week to visit four Attappeu villages affected by Typhoon Ketsana. These villages sustained damage to more than 45 homes and lost approximately 90% of their rice and vegetable crops during the typhoon. We met with village representatives to discuss both their immediate, and long-term needs and goals.

Two villages urgently require building materials to repair and rebuild homes and storage buildings damaged by Ketsana. They also need rice and vegetable seeds before they can sow their next crop and begin the long recovery process. We are hoping to assist with these most immediate needs quickly and effectively.To facilitate long-term development, each of these villages needs irrigation infrastructure. This would enable villagers to produce a second rice crop each year and meet their own rice consumption needs. Excess rice could be sold to generate much needed extra income. Irrigation could also reduce rice-crop labor hours and enable villagers to spend more time growing vegetable crops, thus increasing both their nutritional intake and their income.

Only a small percentage of households own working livestock such as cows and buffalos, and many more are needed to make farming more efficient, and less labour intensive. Villagers are also keen to improve the yields of their cash crops via the introduction of both new techniques and varieties. We are hoping to work in partnership with these villagers to provide agricultural support and advice in the future.

To help this vulnerable group rebuild their lives, and their communities, please support us at:

www.globalgiving.com/projects/typhoon