To safeguard rural agricultural livelihoods and strengthen long-term community capacity against environmental and biological threats, the Department of Water Resources, in close collaboration with the Agriculture and Environment Office and local authorities, is conducting a comprehensive Training on Livestock Raising Techniques and Village Veterinary Work. Running through July 31, this intensive initiative targets five highly vulnerable villages across the Chonnabouly, Nong, and Sepon districts in Savannakhet Province. Savannakhet's rural communities, many of which reside within the critical Xe Bang Hieng River Basin, are heavily dependent on agriculture and natural resources, making them particularly susceptible to the dual threats of prolonged drought and unexpected flooding.

The training program actively engages more than 260 local villagers and village veterinarians in practical, hands-on workshops tailored specifically to the environmental realities of local farming. Rather than relying solely on classroom theory, participants learn vital skills to modernize and protect their farming practices through improved livestock management, which includes mastering best practices for breeding, housing, and the daily care necessary to keep herds resilient in fluctuating climates. The training deeply emphasizes hygiene and sanitation, teaching farmers how to maintain clean, secure environments that naturally deter pathogens and limit the transmission of viruses. Alongside this, instructors provide localized, cost-effective strategies for reducing feed costs—ensuring that animals remain sustainably nourished even during severe dry periods when traditional grazing land becomes scarce. Crucially, the curriculum focuses heavily on proactive disease prevention. Farmers are taught how to identify early clinical warning signs, safely quarantine affected animals, and prevent major biological threats, with a specific focus on eradicating Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), both of which have historically devastated local herds and erased years of economic progress.

This community-level activity is a core, on-the-ground component of the broader Integrated Water Resources Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation Project (IWRM-EbA). Recognizing that agricultural security and environmental health are deeply interconnected, the project is implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and generously funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). By integrating sustainable ecosystem management with practical agricultural training, the initiative ensures that human development does not come at the cost of the environment.