Improving Nutrition in Laos
As the sun rises, Seesamout Saiyavong, a farmer, is already busy tending to the leafy greens and long beans in her family’s greenhouse garden.
Seesamout started a greenhouse with support from CRS’ LEAPS project in Laos. She now provides nutritious vegetables for her village primary school for use in school lunches.
Photo by Benny Manser/CRS
Nestled among fields of the Savannakhet province of Laos, her garden is a testament to sustainable agricultural practices. Seesamout’s efforts are not only transforming her community’s connection with the land, but also improving their nutrition.
Seesamout’s journey began modestly, with a small garden.
“When I was young, we used to have a small garden, but it was just for the family to grow and eat the vegetables. At that time, we didn't have a market or any place that we could sell the vegetables,” she says.
Seesamout’s dedication caught the attention of the Learning and Engaging All in Primary Schools project, or LEAPS, funded by USDA’s McGovern-Dole Food For Education and Child Nutrition Program and implemented by Catholic Relief Services in partnership with Laos’ Ministry of Education and Sports. Through LEAPS, Seesamout received training in advanced gardening techniques, including the production of natural, chemical-free fertilizer. This knowledge has been a catalyst for growth, allowing her to expand her organic greenhouse.
“In 2023, LEAPS came to us in the community and asked if anybody was interested to have training or expand their garden. I was interested in how I could make my garden bigger, so that's why I wanted to be a part of this project. I’ve been planting this garden and vegetables for about three months,” Seesamout says.
Nurturing Knowledge and Nutrition
Along with other family members, Seesamout works in the family’s greenhouse growing a variety of vegetables and fruits.
Photo by Benny Manser/CRS
The support from CRS has been multifaceted, providing not just knowledge but also resources such as gardening tools, seeds and materials for greenhouse construction.
This approach has enabled her to supply fresh, organic vegetables to the local school and sell to local markets, bolstering both her family’s income and the community’s access to nutritious food.
“So, my life right now, I have enough food to eat and my food security is much better. I don't feel I’m poor or have a lack of food. I also earn some money to contribute to the community or buy things that I need,” Seesamout says.
The LEAPS greenhouse activity is also helping young learners improve the variety of nutritious foods in their school lunches.
Phouphan, a farmer from Napho village, grows vegetables with her family on their land. They are expanding their production through the use of a greenhouse.
Photo by Benny Manser/CRS
“I’m very proud that I’m part of supporting the children’s health. They can eat the organic vegetables because in this garden we don't use any chemicals,” Seesamout says.
Cultivating Resilience through Climate Smart Agriculture
The greenhouse is valuable for protection against strong storms and controlling insects and pests. It allows farmers to grow different types of crops at different times of the year.
“Some challenges that I faced previously include the changes in the weather,” Seesamout says.
Seesamout’s greenhouse garden is a prime example of climate-smart agriculture in practice. This approach increases agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner. By using advanced gardening techniques and natural, chemical-free fertilizers, she’s promoting sustainable farming practices that benefit both the environment and her community.
Sowing Sustainability
Looking to the future, Seesamout is determined to expand her agricultural production.
“We use the money that we receive from selling vegetables to plant more produce, improve the water system and maintain the greenhouse,” she says.
With training in marketing and financial planning from LEAPS, she’s well-equipped to enhance the sustainability and expansion of her greenhouse farm as she also plans to hire more workers.
The success of Seesamout’s greenhouse garden is a model for other communities facing similar challenges. It demonstrates how greenhouse farming can help communities adapt to climate change while improving health and nutrition in local schools.
“I’m very proud to provide healthy food. I want to share my experience and encourage other people to grow organic food for the community,” Seesamout says.