The United Nations will assist the Lao government in its efforts to revive its poultry industry that was affected by the Avian flu in 2003, resulting in the slaughtering of 500,000 chickens worth over 26 billion kips.

Two UN agencies, the UNDP and the FAO, will provide over 10,000 breeding chickens to three government farms in the Vientiane area to breed and distribute to private farms. With the UN help, Lao officials hope to be able to revive the poultry industry within one year.

For more details, listen to our Laos Today report.