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Objectives

The general objective of the project is to enhance smallholders' financial autonomy and capacity of initiative by improving their income from livestock rearing.

The specific objectives are to strengthen veterinary services and the extension network at all levels for an efficient and sustainable delivery of animal health and production services, and thereby, to reduce disease incidence, improve management practice and increase livestock productivity.

The immediate beneficiaries are the livestock and extension services; the ultimate beneficiaries are the farmers, particularly smallholders.

Activities

The project comprises seven components:

Legislative program

The project is assisting the Government of Lao PDR in upgrading its national veterinary legislation . Check-posts to control the movement of animals and animal products are being strengthened and meat inspection skills upgraded.

Information systems

The project supports market monitoring activities of the Department of Livestock and Fisheries as well as the establishment of a nation-wide Animal Health Information System . A strategy for the collection of livestock health and production data at village level has been developed. A documentation centre has been established in Vientiane.

Laboratory Services

Facilities at the National Vaccine Institute have been upgraded, as well as the skills of its employees. The project established the central veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Vientiane and supports its network in the provinces. Mobile veterinary services have been established.

Extension and field services

A network for the delivery of animal production and health services in the field by Village Veterinary Workers (VVWs) has been developed. Furthermore, linkages have been strengthened between farmers and government veterinary services in the Northern provinces of Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Oudomxay, Bokeo and Xayabouri.

Extension packages have been introduced following four main approaches:

1. Activities to support VVWs and Livestock Officers in Northern Lao PDR by means of workshops with staff and community leaders on VVW selection, Training of Trainers courses for livestock officers, the development of basic VVW training, improvement of cold-chain facilities, and the provision of motorbikes and basic VVW equipment and veterinary medicines.
2. Establishment of Livestock Stations and organisation of practical training courses for VVWs and farmers. In the year 2000 a training center for pig and poultry production has been established at Luang Namtha.
3. Assistance towards establishing livestock information systems , the conduct of a baseline survey to provide information on household/village dynamics, and the establishment of provincial livestock sector profiles.
4. Establishment of demonstration farms and credit schemes for the introduction of improved animal husbandry techniques in villages.

Regional and sub-regional co-operation and co-ordination

The project supports the efforts of the Government of Lao PDR in eradicating animal diseases through the provision of a budget for international, regional and sub-regional co-operation.

Information and communication

The management, co-ordination and monitoring of project activities is carried out by a Project Management Unit comprising European and Lao staff.

Specific activities targeting pigs

1. Training of farmers in improved rural pig production.
2. Rural credit for establishment of small scale pig farms.
3. Training of Village Veterinary Workers .
4. Production of training manuals in English and Lao language; hard copy and electronic versions. To download the electronic version, go to

Project information