Embassy of India

Vientiane, Laos

India assists village community in Luang Namtha in shifting to sustainable livelihood practices.

1. On 04 January 2024, Ambassador of India H.E. Mr. Prashant Agrawal handed over a Quick Impact Project to boost organic coffee production and diversifying the village economy of Namvang village, Viengphouka district, Luang Namtha province. Representatives of Luang Namtha provincial authorities were also present. The project aims to create sustainable alternatives for shifting cultivation (slash & burn) and mono-cropping, which are common agriculture practices of the communities in the uplands of Luang Namtha province.

2. This project will help processing of organic coffee cultivation in total area of about 45 hectares, and a number of families will benefit directly from the project.  Besides, this project will protect environment and will enhance socio – economic development in Luang Namtha province.

3. In a meeting between H.E. Mr. Viengsavath Siphandone, Governor of Luang Namtha Province and Ambassador, they agreed that such projects are beneficial to Luang Namtha. Ambassador offered more QIP projects to be implemented in the province. Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Ambassador noted that this project will bring economic prosperity to the villagers. He appreciated the cooperation extended by the villagers for quick completion of project.

4. The project has been undertaken under grant assistance from the Government of India under the Quick Impact Project (QIP) Scheme of Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC), which has been delivering development to communities at grassroots level in the areas of health, education, drinking water facility, agriculture, and IT, etc. in remote far-flung areas across many provinces of Lao PDR. QIPs are projects with short gestation period that directly benefit local communities, with results that are immediate and visible, which contribute significantly to economic and social development and improvement of public welfare.

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