Breaking the cycle of poverty in Lao PDR through organic farming education

Bolaven means “the home of the Laven people,” and the Laven who work at Lao PDR’s Bolaven Farms Limited are producing world-class organic coffees. With a focus on education and output quality, this startup is empowering farmers through a resident organic farming program.
The resident program is two years long and designed to break the cycle of poverty one family at a time. It provides paid employment with room, board, organic farming training, and medical coverage. Upon graduation, farmers qualify for loans to establish seven-acre farms or work as contractors. This system equips the poor with real jobs, not aid or subsidies.
Bolaven Farms is committed to quality. They view soil as a resource, that when taken care of, will increase yields and quality. The startup also manages nitrogen-enriching plants, grass-fed livestock, and composting. These combined systems preserve and respect the soil ecosystems in the Bolaven Plateau.
MATCh will continue to support this startup to expand their operations. MATCh is a program of the Mekong Business Initiative, a private sector development partnership of the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia that equips entrepreneurs to scale and thrive.