My name is Phoukhaok Phothisan, a 31-year-old farmer who is a member of the Thong Mang Organic Agriculture Cooperative in Xaythani District, Vientiane Capital, Laos.
In 2017, I started small-scale farming by raising native chickens to sell eggs and chicken meat at the organic market every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday as well as by the roadside in Vientiane Capital. I am a young farmer who likes working in agriculture and has dreamed of developing myself into a young business farmer by producing eggs and chickens for sale in the market and in shops or supermarkets to meet the needs of consumers and to be able to compete with foreign businesses who are investing in Laos because of the many agriculture products produced by Lao farmers.
Recently, production and trading became limited due to high production costs and there was still a strong double market from neighboring countries that export agricultural products to sell in our country at a cheaper price e.g., eggs sold at 26,000 kip/tap while the cost of the eggs we produce is 30,000 kip/tap and can be sold at 45,000 kip/tap. The imported ones are cheaper because they have been produced on a large-scale basis, making it possible to be sold wholesale at low prices. As for me, I have a small-scale production because I do not have much capital and I have to buy ready-made feeds, sorghum, corn, and rice which add up to the production cost.
I thought of producing my own animal feeds to reduce the production cost, but the problem is that the capital to expand the business is still limited and there is a lack of access to credit, especially for young farmers, because most young farmers have no assets for guarantees. I think that if this problem can be solved, it will help many young people to become more interested in agriculture and be able to become big business people in the Lao agricultural sector.
Therefore, I am writing this letter to appeal to policymakers and financial institutions such as banks to consider the following recommendations:
- Propose to the government or the relevant financial institutions to allocate capital and resources in a timely manner, as well as to provide adequate funding.
- Consider stopping the import of certain agricultural products that Lao people can produce on their own. Put restrictions on the opening up of opportunities for foreign businessmen to invest in Laos because these are affecting the price competition and employment for Lao farmers. This will help young people to continue their business and develop themselves into large-scale agricultural business owners and can contribute to the agriculture sector of Laos.
Phu Khao Kham Phothisan
Laos
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