The Bamboo & NTFP Development Association (BNDA)

For many rural communities in Houaphan Province, bamboo and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are more than resources from the forest. They are an important part of people’s livelihoods, food, traditional knowledge, and local economy. But managing these resources sustainably requires knowledge and cooperation. Since its establishment in 2020, the Bamboo & NTFP Development Association (BNDA) […]

Ms. Monkeo Manivanh

For Ms. Monkeo Manivanh, farming is more than a way to earn a living. It is something she enjoys and a journey of learning and growth. She wanted to find a crop that could provide income while also being good for the environment. After researching different crops online, she discovered cocoa. She chose it because […]

Nuthikone Sipasert (Top)

Leaving a full-time job to pursue agriculture was a major decision for Nuthikone Sipasert (Top), driven by his growing interest in farming and passion for working with plants. Top started farming as a side business while working full-time, initially growing sunflower microgreens. As the business grew, he found it increasingly difficult to balance both jobs. […]

Somvang Khounsomehuang

Mr. Somvang Khounsomehuang began raising hornets after noticing that they were becoming increasingly difficult to find in the wild. He asked himself: What will happen to hornets in the future if people continue collecting them from the wild without conservation efforts? This question inspired him to establish Kamsi Her Her Farm in 2017. Concerned about […]

Soulisa Kommasith

Soulisa Kommasith began developing her coffee business as a continuation of her family’s coffee-growing activities. Previously, her family primarily produced coffee beans and sold them to traders. To develop coffee processing skills, Soulisa studied coffee roasting through online resources and later travelled to Vietnam to learn about coffee processing. She then applied this knowledge to […]

Phaivanh Sixaiyavong (Tou Kood)

After years in the steel construction industry, Phaivanh Sixaiyavong (known as Tou Kood) shifted to agriculture when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his business. Despite having no prior farming experience, he taught himself coconut cultivation through online research and hands-on experimentation. However, he soon faced challenges in marketing his raw produce. To add value to his […]

Mr. Khamphou Phanthaboun

Mr. Khamphou Phanthaboun began his journey in organic farming with no training. Like many farmers, he relied on traditional farming practices and learned through experience. In 2004-2005, with support from the Helvetas organic agriculture project, Mr. Khamphou established a organic garden at his home. Through hands-on learning and continuous practice, he developed skills in organic […]

Yordxam Company Ltd.

Yordxam Co., Ltd. is a pioneering enterprise dedicated to promoting Khao Kai Noi, or “Little Chicken Rice,” renowned as the finest sticky rice in Laos. Little Chicken Rice (Oryza sativa L. subsp. japonica Shig.Kato), locally known as Khao Kai Noi, is a traditional Lao sticky rice celebrated for its unique shape, large grains, fragrant aroma, […]

Mr. Saengkham Inthiratvongsy

Mr. Saengkham Inthiratvongsy worked as a lecturer at the Faculty of Forestry of the National University of Laos (NUoL) from 1991 to 2010. After that, he worked as a freelancer in natural resource management and became interested in coffee. Thanks to a UN scholarship, he studied coffee farming in Thailand. In 2015, he and his […]

Ban Jaeng Cooperative

In 2009, a small rice seed group in Jaeng village was created with the goal to support local farmers with improved seed quality. Over time, it grew into a strong cooperative built on solidarity, and shared ambition. Ban Jaeng Cooperative was officially established in 2018. This legal recognition was an important milestone in opening opportunities […]