SEDA’s approach: SEDA plans to further develop sustainable agribusiness and medicinal plants industries in Laos, utilizing the best technology available. This work will provide food security, alleviate poverty and improve nutrition. We intend to do this by working with Lao and international scientists, agricultural institutes, international universities and Lao universities to make use of the best available research on effective agricultural technologies. We also undertake our own research such as that described below on cash crops, Jatropha Curas and Agarwood.

SEDA will bring the most effective technologies; the best strains of seeds, the best farming methods, to villagers to improve the quality and quantity of their cash crops, plantations and livestock. SEDA will educate and support farmers in the use of up to date farming methods.

SEDA will help farmers develop effective water conservation and irrigation systems and establish food or seeds banks.

Finally, income will only improve if produce is sold at a fair price. SEDA will develop domestic and international markets for Lao agricultural and medicinal plants, to generate enough income to pay a fair trade price to farmers and to fund SEDA’s further development work.

Cash crops: SEDA has researched cash crops and will advise farmers on high yield rice and tropical vegetables.

Green energy – Jatropha Curas research: SEDA is trialing a plantation of 150 trees in Vientiane Province planted from seedlings from a range of areas in Laos. SEDA will test the seeds to determine the best species to use in SEDA’s agribusiness projects.  Jatropha Curas is used for skin treatment products, traditional natural medicine and bio-diesel. SEDA will encourage poor farmers to plant Jatropha Curas to improve their livelihoods and help the environment (when used as green energy).

Agarwood research: SEDA is using traditional and scientific testing methods to determine the best method of growing Agarwood seedlings. SEDA currently has 500 seedlings. Agarwood is used to make traditional natural medicine, cosmetics and incense.   SEDA will encourage poor farmers to plant Agarwood.

Development work: SEDA is currently seeking the resources to do integrated development work in Sanxay District, Attappeu Province, which is one of the 47 poorest districts and one of the Lao Government’s “Priority Development Districts”. Attappeu is in South Eastern Laos, bordering Cambodia and Vietnam. The province has a population of 114,300 (2004 estimate) and a population density of 11 inhabitants per square kilometer. Sanxay District in 2009 is home to 17,942 villagers, including 9,025 women (8,500 families / 3-10 people/per family) who live in 45 villages. The ethnicity of the villagers is Thalai, Arluc, Yak, Lavan, and Low Lao (Lao Loum). The main sources of income are agriculture; weaving; livestock and, in certain areas. (Source: local government administration office 23 February 2009).

In 2001/02 15,293 people lived in Sanxay District in 59 villages where 93.2% of villages were classified as poor. 98.8% of households are poor – the highest in Laos (National Statistical Center Poverty Statistical Reports Provincial Committees / Authorities Lao PDR RTM8 NPEP Annex 1 March 2003). The government has since asked villages to combine leading to the current 45 villages.

SEDA chose this province as it has not been given enough attention due to the constraints of poor infrastructure and low population. In 2005, a team from SEDA visited Sanxay District, Attappeu Province, for a 2 week general survey.  Through observation, talking with local leaders such as the governor, district mayor and heads of the villages, and interviewing many villagers, children and women, SEDA identified their needs and constraints:
• Poor infrastructure: Where roads existed, they were poor. Many of the villages have no road access (boat or walking access only).  Since then improvements have been made to some roads and electricity is more available.
• Scarcity of food: The amount of rice and vegetables grown combined with live stock was not enough to feed families all year round. As a result of this shortage, malnutrition was widespread. Recent contact with local officials confirm that this is still the case.
• Trade for food: Villagers exchange raw gemstones and raw gold for food with Vietnamese people. Food is imported from Vietnam, other provinces or districts.
• Difficulty accessing water: The land was dry and there was no irrigation. Villagers used a bamboo pike system to get water from the mountain as they could not afford a better system.
• Polluted forests and waterways: Houses did not have toilets, resulting in polluted forests and rivers.
• No help: There were no INGOs or CSOs working in the area during our survey in 2005.  Now there are some INGOs doing development work in Attappeu Province (WFP, IFAD, FAO, FFW, Red Cross, Health Unlimited, EDP2) but more is needed to alleviate poverty in the district.
• Local officials, local leaders and villagers asked SEDA to search for grants to assist with agriculture, irrigation, water conservation, biodiversity, education and health care.