(KPL) The World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) have given USD 14.7 million to the Lao government for food security improvement and running a public survey on the seventh national socio-economic development plan.
An agreement on the grant assistance was signed at the Ministry of Finance on June 4, between Deputy Minister of Finance, Mme Viengthong Siphandone, and WB Country Director for South East Asia, Ms Annette Dixon, at the witness of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and relevant officials of parties concerned. The grant finance includes USD 4.6 million from the EU and the rest from the World Bank. �About US$14.6 million of the grant will be used in food security improvement and the rest in public opinion survey,� said Mme Viengthong.
The grant will help Laos improve the food security of upland households by demonstrating and practising better rice-based farming systems. It will also address the recovery needs of households in Ketsana-affected provinces, according to a WB press release.
The project will be carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in partnership with the Poverty Reduction Fund, and will run in Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Xiengkhouang, Houaphanh, Sekong, Savannakhet, Champassak, Saravane and Attapeu provinces.
�The project aims to further enhance rural productivity in Laos by strengthening the capacity of farmer groups and villagers,� said WB Country Manager for Laos, Patchamuthu Illangovan.
