“Laos: New farming methods suited to climate change”, 9 July 2015

With most people relying on rice farming and livestock for their livelihood [in Koutou village], there were few options for other income. Climate change and extreme weather make their lives especially difficult. Recurring drought makes them worry about every harvest, while hunger and the lack of clean water cause disease, most of which the people cannot afford to have treated professionally...Koutou is one of 13 villages in Vieng Phoukha district where The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) started an empowerment project that promotes human rights in January 2015. To improve living conditions for the villagers, the LWF conducts vocational training and workshops in vegetable planting, bio extract manure production and composting to promote small income generation programs and improve farm yield in order to provide nutritious food and income…The people of Koutou have always used fertilizer to improve their yield but the chemical solution they used before severely damaged the soil’s nutrient balance. The chemicals were harmful to the farmers' health. The bio extract manure introduced by the LWF is a sustainable alternative with no risk to people’s health…