Who We Are
Indochina Development Partners Lao Sole Ltd. (IDP Lao) is a limited company established in 2015. Our four rice mills are located in the south of Laos, within the main rice cultivation area. We are the leading producer and supplier of quality rice in Laos for both the domestic and international market. We are committed to the sustainable development of premium quality rice, both organic and non-organic, and to preserving the unique features of Lao rice
What We Do
In a commitment to consistently deliver high quality rice, IDP controls the full cycle of production. We select specific varieties and produce seeds in our own Research & Development Seed Farm. We have a close relationship with farmers, by providing them with these seeds and buying back their paddy through contract farming, giving us perfect control over our raw material quality.
The paddy is processed through 4 purpose-built rice mills equipped with the latest technology and we have finally established a worldwide network of distributors to help promote and sell Lao rice. First class Quality Control and Good Manufacturing Practices are at the core of our business philosophy.
Rice in Laos
Glutinous rice – the essence of what it means to be Lao
Rice cultivation is the single most important economic activity in Laos, accounting for 70% of the total cultivated area, half of all agricultural output and one-fifth of total GDP.
Historically, the people of Laos have grown glutinous (“sticky”) rice and the Lao eat more glutinous than any other people in the world. It continues to make up around 90 percent of all Lao rice production with the remainder consisting of white and fragrant rice.
Small-scale farming remains the pillar of the food and agriculture sectors and the country has one of the highest per capita annual rice consumption levels in the world, highlighting the strategic importance of this crop for the country.
Small-scale family farming, primarily for self-consumption, has been the pillar of rice cultivation. IDP works with the farming community to encourage more extensive, organic farming methods that involve zero chemical input, with premium quality the key objective.
Rice Seed Production
Traditionally, Lao farmers have used many different seed varieties, resulting in variable consistency and quality. Such variability is detrimental to the development of quality products and to meeting the needs of international buyers seeking high value products. By selecting and distributing varieties of proven quality, higher yields and better prices will benefit both the Lao rice industry and hundreds of thousands of Lao families.
IDP has developed its own Research & Development Seed Farm, the only company with such facilities. Here, agronomic, processing and sensory tests are carried out every season, and the best varieties selected and multiplied.
We have also recently opened a brand new Seed Processing plant where we clean, sort, bag and store the seeds, to the highest quality standards.
The production line has the capacity to process more than 2,000 tons of seeds per year, the largest and most advanced seed processing facility in Laos.