Laos seeks to enhance food security

VIENTIANE, July 23 (Xinhua) — The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is seeking to enhance food security and agricultural output in rural areas.
The ministry and Asia Tobacco Industry Group Co., Ltd. agreed to conduct a feasibility study on investment in the development of agriculture and forestry in Laos, according to the ministry’s report on Tuesday.
The company plans to invest in agriculture and help farmers enhance production, including through the use of modern equipment, improved crop cultivation and livestock rearing methods, more efficient harvesting, larger-scale processing, and improved packaging and marketing.
As part of agricultural development, the project will build a crop oil processing plant, a cattle farm, a plant to produce feed for cattle and various aquatic species, and a fertilizer processing plant.
The project aims to ensure that crops and livestock are produced in sufficient quantities for domestic supply and export and improve farmers’ quality of life and national economic infrastructure. ■