Grilled frogs with Sticky Rice for Lunch Put a Smile on the Faces of the KaSua Family

In the beautiful district of Vapy, nestled amongst stunning rice fields, is a place where KaSua and his family live. With his 28-year-old wife, Pou, and their two children, a five-year-old daughter, Khaophan, and a two-year-old son, Singha. Though life is full of love, it is also marked by hardship. As the head of the household, KaSua supports his family through farming, primarily cultivating rice and cassava. However, with a modest annual income, the family often struggles to afford enough nutritious food for everyone.

The impacts of undernutrition can be far-reaching and multi-generational, leading to huge economic burdens for countries and perpetuating the cycle of poverty and undernutrition within families and communities. 

Their reliance on non-timber forest products for daily meals exacerbates the issue, as they lack sufficient rice and produce to sustain themselves throughout the year. Furthermore, a lack of proper technical knowledge and equipment makes it difficult to grow crops and raise animals at home. Reflecting on their hardships, KaSua admits, "In the past, we relied on nature like wild vegetables, bamboo, fishing from the river, and seasonal food. Our village is in a low area. In 2019, we were affected by floods, and our rice paddies and crops were damaged."

Fortunately, their circumstances took a turn for the better when they joined the Sustainable Agriculture for Nutrition (SUAN) project. This initiative, led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) as part of their Partnership for Improved Nutrition in Lao PDR Program, introduced the frog-rearing activity to KaSua's family. 

Through the SUAN Project, KaSua's family received technical training and guidance in frog-raising.  In addition, they received 1,000 breeding frogs, 60kg of frog feed, and materials for building a frog house. The support not only gave Kasua newfound knowledge and resources of nutritious food for his children, but it will also create some income for the family in the future. "In the past, we were not raising frogs because I did not know the technique, and we relied on nature," said KaSua. He added: “Raising frogs is not difficult for me because I love it, I enjoy it while we feed them in the morning and evening together with my children or my wife.” 

With his insight, he will continue to expand their frog pond in the future, enhancing their ability to raise animals for the family's source of nutritious food and to make income for the family. “Nowadays, it is very hard to find frogs in nature. To have them as a source of food, we have to raise them.  If you have money, then you buy them from the market, but our community is located a bit far from the town and the road conditions are difficult, especially during the rainy season,” KaSua shared.

Furthermore, these initiatives in the project aim to foster gender equality within households, encouraging men and women to make joint financial decisions. KaSua, recognizing the importance of gender equality, has become more involved in household matters, sharing financial responsibilities with his wife and making decisions together. This newfound unity has brought them closer as a family. 

The SUAN project in 6 villages has been positively influenced by this project. Families' increased knowledge has improved well-being outcomes for children in these communities. KaSua reflects on the remarkable change the SUAN Project has brought to their lives, stating, "I am very happy that our family was able to engage with the frog-raising activity because it was very helpful for us.  We have a nutritious food source near our door, and I have more time to work on rice field instead of looking for food,” KaSua is shares with a smiling face.