Overview
Today, Aqqount participated in a working session hosted at the Lao Best Brand Association (LBBA) with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The discussion focused on how a long‑term collaboration can elevate the value chain of home‑grown crops in Lao PDR—starting on the farm and extending to quality assurance, post‑harvest handling, traceability, branding, and buyer linkages.
As Managing Director of Aqqount and Executive Director for Strategic Partnerships & Fundraising at LBBA, I’m encouraged by the alignment across all parties: helping Lao farmers meet Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards, improving post‑harvest management, and expanding access to domestic and export markets.
Why this matters
- Farmer livelihoods: Reliable standards and better handling reduce losses, improve quality, and increase income potential.
- Buyer confidence: Verified quality and traceability help retailers, exporters, and processors source consistently from Lao PDR.
- National competitiveness: Stronger value chains and branded Lao products support MSMEs and stimulate inclusive growth.
Collaboration pillars
- GAP Certification Pathway
- Practical training and readiness assessments for producers and cooperatives
- Digital task lists, documentation, and audit preparation workflows
- Continuous improvement using data from field visits and inspections
- Post‑Harvest Quality Management
- Better grading, sorting, packaging, storage, and cold chain coordination
- Lot‑level tracking to minimize losses and maintain product integrity
- Standard operating procedures designed for local contexts and crop specifics
- Market Access & Branding
- Buyer matching for retailers, exporters, and processors
- Quality assurance and traceability integrated with LBBA brand positioning
- Storytelling and product profiles that showcase Lao origin and quality
- Data & Traceability
- Farm‑to‑buyer visibility on inputs, practices, and handling
- Digital records to support claims (GAP, food safety, sustainability)
- Dashboards for cooperatives, buyers, and program coordinators
How Aqqount contributes
Aqqount provides the digital layer that makes these goals practical at scale:
- Certification & compliance workflows: Digitized GAP readiness checklists, corrective actions, training modules, audit support.
- Post‑harvest modules: Digital grading and lot tracking, cold‑chain visibility, and standardized SOPs.
- Buyer linkages: Demand planning, sourcing calendars, and verified supplier profiles to connect cooperatives/MSMEs with qualified buyers.
- Analytics & reporting: Real‑time dashboards for program leads, with measurable indicators across quality, volume, timelines, and sustainability.
Initial pilot focus
We are co‑designing pilot programs with LBBA member cooperatives and agribusinesses. The pilots will concentrate on priority crop chains where quality upgrades and market demand align, and will include:
- A GAP readiness sprint (training, documentation, mock audits)
- A post‑harvest improvement cycle (grading, packaging, storage)
- Traceability setup from farm to buyer (lot IDs, quality records)
- Buyer engagement to validate specifications and secure offtake pathways
Proposed timeline:
- Weeks 1–4: Baseline assessments, stakeholder onboarding, training schedule
- Weeks 5–8: Implement workflows, mock audits, first post‑harvest cycle
- Weeks 9–12: Buyer trials, feedback loops, and refinement for scale‑up
Call for partners
We invite organizations that can strengthen these pilots and scale the impact:
- Buyers & exporters seeking reliable Lao supply
- Retailers & food service looking for verified local produce
- Input providers & logistics/cold‑chain ready to support quality upgrades
- Standards/training bodies for GAP and food safety
- Impact investors & development partners interested in inclusive growth
👉 Get involved: Visit www.aqqount.com or contact us to discuss collaboration opportunities.
What’s next
Aqqount, LBBA, and JICA will refine pilot scopes, identify focal cooperatives and MSMEs, and set up a shared monitoring framework. We will publish updates on pilot progress, learnings, and partner onboarding over the coming weeks.
About Aqqount
Aqqount is a digital platform helping agri‑value chains in Lao PDR build traceable, quality‑assured supply. We connect farmers, cooperatives, and buyers through compliance workflows, post‑harvest management, and market linkages—turning data into trust and growth.