Food aid purchased in Laos helps build sustainable livelihoods
The United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) provides food to people in natural and humanitarian disasters. But is it possible for the world’s largest relief programme to address chronic food insecurity in the remote villages of Laos in a way that builds sustainable markets for business and farmers?
WFP’s School Feeding Project in Laos, launched in 2002 is attempting to do both. Ms Phetsamone Phomvichay, a grade 5 student from Phongsaly has been a part of WFP’s School Feeding Project since her first day of school. This entitles her to a mid-morning snack of sweetened corn-soya blend each school day, and a twice yearly ration of rice, canned fish and iodized salt.
Recently Phetsamone was selected as one of the winners in the global WFP Children’s Art Competition. “I love drawing,” she says. Phetsamone’s picture was amongst 13 selected from 40 different countries. Corn-soya blend helps her to concentrate on studying, “I want to keep learning as long as I can, so I can become a teacher.”
Phetsamone with her family and her ‘winning’ drawing!
The Project assists children at a critical stage in their lives. But do farmers and local businesses benefit? Or does the “unfair competition” of aid undermine their long term survival?
“Not necessarily”, thinks Christa Räder, WFP Representative in Laos- “if WFP can purchase produce within Laos.” For that to happen, WFP needs local partners- to work with farmers to increase crop production and process crops into finished products.
Natural Products International (NPI) with assistance from locally based, international business partners have been helping farmers grow crops for which they provide markets, ensuring WFP’s corn-soya blend is a Lao product. NPI has greatly increased soya bean production in Bokeo, while their partners helped to stimulate the growth of corn - by guaranteeing prices to farmers, providing seeds and support during harvest. In its Bokeo factory, NPI processes soya beans and corn into corn-soya blend for WFP, enriched with vitamins and minerals.
“We hope to provide sustained economic opportunities for Lao farmers, in addition to providing a nutritious snack for school children,” says Tom Love, General Manager for NPI.
NPI and local partners can help Lao communities to produce for the market as well to add value to their crops. Over 2,000 families in 70 villages have been growing crops on contract; with some of the produce exported to growing regional markets.
Since 2000, this initiative has helped generated US$475,000 in direct income to farmers in remote Lao districts. NPI employs 30 national staff, many from poor families, who are trained in all aspects of the business. Assisted by WFP’s strategy to purchase locally, corn-soya blend provides economic opportunities to poor, rural families and helps prevent hunger and malnutrition in primary school children.
