VIENTIANE CAPITAL, LAOS – On 5 April 2020, the Navieng Organic Vegetable Growers Group in Naveing Village, Hiem District Huaphanh Province, Laos harvested their produce including carrots, beetroots, and Daikon totaling in 2 tons (2,000 kilograms) with a total value of over LAK 15,000,000 (USD 1,660). These produce were to be transported and sold to merchants in Vientiane Capital. However, the increasing number of COVID-19 infected persons in the country lead to the difficulty of delivery of goods because of traveling in and out of certain areas has been limited. There were strict checkpoints at district and provincial boundaries for quarantine inspection and prevention of the disease. The majority of public transport was temporarily halted.
The farmers’ group then contacted the District Industrial and Commerce Office of Hiem District, which immediately extended help to coordinate with related agencies. However, they were unable to have that lot of produce transported out. The batch of delivery was eventually canceled and as a result, the group suffered from a huge loss of revenues.
When the Lao Farmer Network (LFN) learned about the difficulty faced by the Navieng Organic Vegetable Growers Group, they provided assistance by producing a video to share their struggle with the public with Sor Siamphone, head of the group, speaking on behalf of her co-farmers. In her interview, she emphasized the group’s effort on the distribution of their produce.
The material was widely released online and gained a lot of attention. As a result, the Navieng group was contacted by merchants in Vientiane Capital, stating interest to buy all of the remaining carrots and beetroots. The only thing that the group had to do was find a way to transport these produce to the capital city.
Not long after that, the Hiem District Office of Industrial and Commerce contacted Sor Siamphone. They extended help in seeking ways to help the farmers by coordinating with Houngaloun Shipping Company. The shipping company agreed to transport the carrots and beetroots to Vientiane Capital amid the pandemic. The company charges a delivery fee of LAK 1,800 (USD .20) per kilogram but they offered a 10% discount for the group to help them cut down their production cost.
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