MEKONG LIVESTOCK RESEARCH: ADVANCING SMALLHOLDER LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND HEALTH

Written by: Francesca Earp

There is an excited energy in the town hall in Harpang Village in Luang Prabang this morning. The air in the hall is hot and dry and the room is filled with clouds of dust as children run around, kicking up their feet. It’s a village affair; every generation invited to join. There’re female farmers breast-feeding as they learn whilst male farmers bounce young children on their knee. A female farmer stands up to make a point to the group, handing her three-month child to a male farmer next to her as she stands. She is confident in her opinions and comfortable enough to share them despite her previous exclusion from such conversations. It’s a snapshot of village life; its busy, it’s loud and it’s inclusive.