Overview
This project is improving smallholder livelihoods by improving transboundary animal disease risk-management and enabling the sustainable expansion and development of the livestock industry in Laos.
Laos remains one of the poorest countries in the world with a high rate of rural poverty and threat of food insecurity. Increased livestock health and productivity can improve rural household incomes and livelihoods within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
Constraints to large ruminant production could be addressed through the adoption of a systems approach to deliver health, biosecurity and production interventions and improved farmer knowledge, attitude and practice.
The constant threat of transboundary animal diseases including foot-and-mouth disease limits opportunities for expansion of the livestock industry.
This project aims to develop and test a ‘whole of village biosecurity program’ for pigs, poultry, goats, cattle and buffalo; strengthen current disease event reporting and emergency response systems; and develop a communication strategy for a widespread public awareness biosecurity campaign, potentially applicable to the Greater Mekong Subregion.
