Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his delegation visit the Sabchalern catfish farm in Dongkhuay village, Xaythany district in Vientiane. - VT
VIENTIANE: Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, accompanied by relevant officials, underscored the government’s commitment to agricultural innovation during a series of pivotal visits last Friday (Sept 19).
The prime minister’s itinerary began at the Subchalern facility in Dongkhuay village, Xaythany district, Vientiane, a pioneering biofloc (tank-based) catfish farming enterprise.
The owner of the farm, Anousack Keochalern, gave an overview of the 22-hectare facility’s three-year journey, which is entirely self-funded.
The facility has transitioned from traditional pond farming to the biofloc system, yielding impressive results in both fish volume and quality.
The farm has 300 catfish tanks, which produce two tonnes of fish each day for supply to markets in Vientiane and surrounding provinces.
The fish are also processed in ways that add value, for sale to markets in Laos and other countries.
The prime minister praised the farm’s innovative spirit and entrepreneurial drive and encouraged the growth of its pioneering concepts, particularly in diversifying processed fish products to meet varied consumer demands.
Dr Sonexay also stressed the importance of ensuring consistent product quality to build customer confidence and ensure sustainable growth.
The prime minister also visited the Green Feed animal feed factory in Lak 21 village, and the CP animal feed factory in Phoukham village, Xaythany district, where he spoke about the interconnectedness of the agricultural value chain.
Later that day, the delegation visited the Soukchalern chicken farm in Naxaithong district.
The farm’s owner, Bounyalit Soukchalern, said between 2023 to 2025 the hens lay 8.7 million trays of eggs, with size 2 and 3 eggs being the most common.
He plans to acquire an additional 500,000 hens, bringing the total to an impressive one million.
Future developments also include the construction of a new feed mill and further expansion of parent stock.
The prime minister gave advice about the direction of future growth, reinforcing the government’s support for large-scale agricultural enterprises that contribute to national development.
The series of visits by the prime minister highlight the concerted effort by the government to foster a modern, sustainable, and export-oriented system of agriculture, driven by innovation and expansion across key sectors. - Vientiane Times/ANN
