Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone attending the Lao Agri Expo in Vientiane on Dec 16, 2024. - VT
VIENTIANE: The ministry is continuing to support Lao farmers to embrace cutting-edge techniques and technologies, while fostering the development of high-quality plant and animal breeds that can compete in international markets.
Dr Linkham said the Lao Agri Expo is a significant milestone in the nation’s development journey.
The event not only showcases agricultural achievements but also represents progress in the historical, political, economic, and socio-cultural spheres.
The expo is a testament to Laos’ remarkable advancement and unwavering commitment to sustainable growth, he added.
To ensure fulfilment of the agriculture sector’s goals and objectives with a pioneering spirit, the minister called upon Party and state organisations at both the central and local levels, and all development partners, to promote sustainable agricultural production through integrated farming and animal husbandry, creating added value from land use, and improving agricultural infrastructure.
This will enhance production efficiency while ensuring proper management and protection of watersheds, streams, and water sources, Dr Linkham said.
These efforts will help reduce vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters, ultimately supporting the government’s goal to maintain growth of the agriculture sector at no less than 2.6 per cent annually.
According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s assessment of the first nine months of this year, the agriculture and forestry sector has demonstrated remarkable progress, achieving a growth rate of 4.1 per cent and contributing 18.9 per cent to national GDP.
This surpasses the National Assembly’s target growth rate of 2.6 per cent and comes close to reaching the target GDP contribution of 20.8 per cent.
Agricultural production forecasts for the full year include 3.6 million tonnes of paddy rice.
Overall food crop production is projected to reach 2.61 million tonnes, surpassing the planned target of 2.46 million tonnes by 6 per cent.
Some 526,300 tonnes of meat, egg and fish have been produced, representing 95 per cent of the total 2024 target of 554,000 tonnes.
“We are confident of meeting our year-end target,” Dr Linkham said.
Commercial crop cultivation has also demonstrated impressive results, with an estimated output of 9.71 million tonnes, comprising 99 per cent of an ambitious 9.75-million-ton target for 2024.
The livestock sector also continues to thrive, with 2,387 livestock and aquatic animal farms currently housing more than 6.12 million livestock.
The value of agriculture and forestry exports exceeded US$1,214 million in the first nine months of this year, surpassing the approved plan of US$1,200 million by 1 per cent. - Vientiane Times/ANN
