Lao People's Democratic Republic : Northern Smallholder Livestock Commercialization Project

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Livestock

Due to population growth and changing diets, there is strong market demand for Lao livestock products from the neighboring countries of the People's Republic of China and Viet Nam as well as domestically. Lao livestock production is approximately 180,000 tons per year and government has set a target of 365,000 tons by 2020. Most current livestock trade is informal which results in increases in disease spread, while reducing prices and profits to farmers and traders, as well as government revenues. Available information suggests current exports are less than 10% of potential demand, while annual domestic demand is rising at 4.5%.

Lao PDR is set to enter the Southeast Asian Nations Economic Community in 2015, making possible new opportunities for trade in agricultural commodities, and is well positioned to capitalize on growing livestock demand. However, the extent that livestock production can reduce poverty, meet growing domestic demand and lift livestock exports is hampered by the low level and quality of production and weak value chains. Key constraints are: limited producer capacity; poor animal husbandry; fragmented market infrastructure with limited processing facilities; low quality feed; lack of credit and services; lack of product standards and enabling regulations for domestic and export trade; and information failures in supply chains.

The project will build upon the Northern Region Sustainable Livelihoods through Livestock Development Project (NRSP) which ends in March 2014 by continuing to work on production at the farm level and by making improvements in selected livestock value chains. It will complement other ADB initiatives to improve trade in Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) including: (i) the Core Agricultural Support Project II, for food safety, linkages to cross-border value chains and livestock management; (ii) the recently started Trade Facilitation: Improved Phytosanitary Handling in GMS Trade Project, for developing cross border trade; and (iii) the GMS Tourism Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth Project, currently under preparation for approval in 2014, which will be developing tourism value chains of which food is an important component particularly in Luang Prabang town.

The project is consistent with the government's sector development objectives which promote the expansion of market-oriented agricultural production. It is in line with ADB's GMS Regional Cooperation Strategy and Program, supporting the thrust to strengthen infrastructure and agriculture. Project objectives are consistent with ADB's country partnership strategy, with a focus on agriculture and trade for pro-poor, sustainable growth through private sector development, regional integration, and transforming agriculture from its subsistence orientation into a diversified and commercialized sector.

The project will build on lessons from ADB's relevant projects and sector experience including the need to: (i) allow sufficient time for farmers to accept new practices; (ii) adopt a participatory stakeholder approach; (iii) strengthen LPGs technical and business capacities; (iv) strengthen access to services; (v) strengthen the link between formal education and practical application; (vi) improve extension capacities of government and private sector; (vii) improve critical value chain infrastructure; and (viii) tap into regional trade facilitation and investment through GMS programs.