Xamneua (Lao PDR), 10 December 2025 - In the mist-covered highlands of Houaphanh Province, Vongsone inspects his morning harvest among the red coffee cherries. A few years ago, this land used to grow a different crop - one that tethered communities to poverty and criminal networks.
Today, these same hills are rewriting their story.
Since 2015, UNODC, in close partnership with the Lao PDR Government, has been working on the ground in Houaphanh, a region historically affected by opium poppy cultivation. The strategy is clear: replace the illicit drug economy with a sustainable value chain that empowers farmers "from seed to cup".
Exhibition of Vanmai coffee products.
"Through the Alternative Development project, I began growing coffee and received support with farming, processing and access to markets. Today, I earn much more [than when I grew opium], enough to send my children to school. Last year, I was even able to build a house in town for my family," said Vongsone, coffee farmer from the Ban Bone Village in Xamneua, Lao PDR.
Beyond economics, the impact is deeply social. The Vanmai Women's Network, established in 2021, has opened doors for women to take on leadership roles and engage in commercial activities. Income generated from coffee sales is being reinvested by communities into essential infrastructure, including schools, electricity, and sanitation.
Farmers are also adopting climate-smart practices, such as shade-grown coffee and organic composting, ensuring that their development does not come at the cost of the environment.
The successful model in Houaphanh is already being replicated in Phongsaly Province, where an additional 393 households are now receiving support, bringing the total beneficiary base to over 1,300 families.
"Alternative development is not about replacing one crop with another. It is about building a value chain that restores trust and opens long-term opportunity. What we have seen here is the progress made through sustained commitment, strong partnerships and, above all, communities who have welcomed us into their homes. That trust carries responsibility, and it is not something we take lightly," said Thida Soukthavone, UNODC Officer-in-Charge of the Alternative Development Programme in Lao PDR.
Source: UNODC
