Vientiane Focuses On Food Security Amid Covid-19 Pandemic

Source: Vientiane Times

Authorities in Vientiane have taken steps to ensure food security amid the challenges posed by the Covid-19 outbreak, which has resulted in problems in transporting agricultural products from other provinces.

There are sufficient food supplies to meet the requirements of the people of the capital, according to an inspection by the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department.

The capital currently has 180 pig farms, which are able to supply about 600 pigs to the markets, and 50 chicken farms with 12,300 tonnes of vegetables and other crops, the Director of the Agriculture and Forestry Department, Dr Lasay Nouanthasing, told the local media recently.

The capital’s authorities encouraged farmers to plant dry season rice on 14,800 hectares, and they are now harvesting their crops for domestic supply and consumption, while thousands of buffaloes and cattle are also available, he said.

“We inspected and found there are restaurants ready to supply 25,000 tonnes of seafood,” said Dr Lasay.

The farmers in the capital are currently struggling to sell their products in limited markets after the government announced measures to strictly inspect all travellers from other provinces.

Farmers who sell their products online or can use the internet to promote their goods face fewer problems.

However, the authorities have taken steps to make sure that Vientiane has adequate agricultural products to ensure food security until next month despite the Covid-19 crisis, Dr Lasay said.

Local authorities are currently more active and strictly conducting inspections in line with the government’s orders to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19. 

Another issue the authorities are dealing with is large numbers of merchants taking advantage of the situation to raise the prices of goods. Several vendors have been fined and warned by the authorities after they conducted strict inspections of all items sold in the markets.