18-20 October 2022 - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Attapeu Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO) successfully organized a three-day study tour for 17 selected model farmers, recruited from 16 villages, on chicken raising in Attapeu, Sekong and Salavan Provinces. This capacity building through knowledge exchange and experience sharing was implemented under the “Building Climate-Resilient and Eco-friendly Agriculture Systems and Livelihoods” (Climate REAL) project, funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). 

The objectives of the three-day study visit were to provide the learning opportunity for 17 selected model farmers from the chicken groups, to support the farmers to gain insights and broaden their perspective on the market linkages and agribusiness opportunities with the chicken raising; and to build their capacity and confidence to co-facilitate the upcoming technical trainings for the second generation chicken group. The study visit provided these 17 model farmers the opportunities to learn the good practices (such as on chicken housing, chicken feeding and disease control) and an exposure to chicken raising agri-business at all scales (micro, small, medium and large). They could also build and extend their network with the middlemen and the buyers such as grill-chicken shops where the continuous supply of chickens are needed. 

Mr. Boonyoth Phommatheb, one of the 17 selected model farmers from Attapeu Province, is proud to be part of this activity. He admitted that “With my successful practices and business operation on chicken raising, I could easily observe and learn the best practices from others, which scales up my knowledge even further.” “I am grateful, and I will surely modify my practices and later share and coach other chicken farmers to help improve their livelihoods,” he added.