I have lived in foreign countries for 30 years and I have been working as co-director for over 15 years, so it is based upon experience when I say this is the most successful project that I have had the pleasure of working with, said Graham Garrod, Co-director of the Son La-lai Chau Rural Development Projects.
The success of the project is due to many reasons including excellent government and project staff, and strong support from local governments and project beneficiaries. The four main components of the projects agricultural, forestry, infrastructure and local education have achieved their objectives. The project helps to contribute to the success of EU support for Asia.
The usefulness of the project is not the amount of money invested but what has been done to improve the lives of local residents.
To help maintain and sustain the work of the project the local government has been actively involved in assisting the implementation of the project activities.
The project has helped to strengthen the spread of new agricultural practices in the villages by training good to local farmers to become Communal Extension Workers who have good knowledge of cultivating in the highlands. In a similar manner, good livestock owners in the villages have been taught to be paravets or local basic veterinarians. After training these paravets receive certificates and veterinary tools packages from the project and they are paid by the local livestock owners for any treatment done. We hope that these farmers will train other farmers even after the project finishes. These are the main tools to build in motivation and to help maintain the network.
We have organised farming classes about insect control, producing improved seeds and for preventing soil erosion. We have also built Cluster Village Centres for primary education and also for adult literacy classes and learning. We hope that these centers will survive and develop well after the completion of the project.
(According to the SaiGon Times Group)