Almost 80% of the population in Laos PDR work in the agriculture sector, while approximately 50% of rural youths are also engaged in this sector (FAO). One of them is Phouttasone Phaengvilay (Noy), a twenty-four-year-old who has been involved in agribusiness since 2008.
Agriculture is traditionally passed on from generation to generation, which is also the case for Noy. She spends her childhood in a farming area in Hoy village, Khoun District, Xiengkhuang province, and has been helping her parents since she was nine years old. She became so passionate about agriculture and now aspires to become an agripreneur.
Due to their hard work in farming, her parents were able to send Noy and her siblings to universities where they obtained a bachelor’s degree. She has never doubted her passion for agriculture, and after graduating from Souphanouvong University, she decided to go back and manage her own farm to grow vegetables such as broccoli, eggplant, cucumber, and chili. Her decision to return to her village is deemed unusual as most of the students who study at agricultural colleges prefer to work for the government, rather than to return to their village.
Noy’s mother working in her garden
Youth participation in agriculture has decreased and it’s not only in Laos but also occurs in other ASEAN countries. I also learned that income is important to make young people interested in agriculture work.
Noy was one of the participants in the ASEAN-EU Youth Forum for Engagement in Food Production and Value Chains, which was organized by AFOSP and implemented by the ASEAN Foundation on 25 October 2017 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Through this forum, she became aware that other ASEAN member states also experience the issues of aging farmer populations which has been occurring in her village.
Noy believes that income can be one of the ways to attract youth participation in agriculture. As an agripreneur, she makes around $1000 per month, which is relatively high compared with the basic salary of a civil servant in Laos, which is between $190 to $290 per month. She makes almost six times more than a civil servant and has the flexibility to manage her working hours.
“Being my own boss, not being under pressure at work, and being able to choose my own time” were some of her favorite aspects of being an agripreneur. At the moment, she also helps as Marketing Officer at Hoi Vegetable Cooperatives. She urges youth agripreneurs to have “good knowledge and right attitude.” Noy also emphasized the importance of having a business plan as an important milestone in agribusiness.
This story is part of the Young Agripreneur Story Series by the ASEAN Foundation.
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