The first shipment of the Thadokkham-8 (TDK8) ricevariety is being sold to Belgium by Champahom Trading Import-Export Sole Co.,Ltd., and the sale is part of a project to promote rice production forcommercial purposes under the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, supportedby a loan from the World Bank, the Vientiane Times reported.
The 50 tonnes of rice are valuedat 29,000 USD. The company encouraged farmers to grow the rice in Pakngum andXaythany districts of Vientiane capital on a total area of 600 hectares.
Champahom Director Bounhieng Phommisay said thecompany planned to work with all relevant sectors to encourage farmers to growmore rice and increase their yields so they could export more, as much as 3,000tonnes a year.
Bounhieng said the opportunities for Lao producersand businesses would improve significantly after the Laos-China railway becomesoperational in December this year./.