Many farmers in rural Laos employ outdated agricultural methods, including shifting cultivation, which requires intensive labor every 2-3 years, and causes significant environmental damage. In addition, the payments for labor are often very low and many farmers struggle with extreme poverty and poor living standards.

In conjunction with Heifer International, PEDA (at that time known as Youth Fellowship for  Action on Development Association) worked to increase families’ annual income by 30%, improve the local environment, and establish savings groups. 500 families in Bolikhamxay, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Attapeu and Oudomxay provinces were provided with livestock and feed so that they could breed the animals and produce an income. The total animals provided under the program were 342 cows, 288 goats, 272 pigs, 540 chickens, 48 water buffalo and 50,000 fingerling fish.

 

In addition to livestock, this project provided assistance with creating savings groups, biogas production stations, and training in animal management and healthcare, and improved agricultural methods. Participants were taught about the Heifer cornerstone model and social considerations such as gender equity.

 

The savings groups were run by community members and had equal representation of men and women. They also included people living with HIV/AIDS as a means of increasing their engagement and reducing social stigma. Families who received livestock were expected to pass on the first offspring of their animals to other families.

 

Whilst elements of the program were highly successful, there were a number of lessons learned which PEDA have subsequently integrated into other projects. Specifically, the importance of a thorough and structured monitoring and evaluation program, and the process used for choosing and engaging participants.

 

This project ran from 2006 to 2008.