Ministerial Decision No. 0837/MAF on Standards for Agricultural and Forest Household Models, Agriculture and Forestry Village Models, and Exemplary Agriculture and Forestry Development Districts.

This Ministerial Decision establishes the criteria and procedures for identifying and certifying "model" entities within the Lao agriculture and forestry sectors. It provides a structured evaluation framework to categorize families, villages, and districts based on their productivity, sustainability, and adherence to technical standards. The overarching goal is to incentivize excellence in rural production, reduce poverty, and accelerate the transition from subsistence farming to commercialized, sustainable agricultural development across the country.
Specifically, the Ministerial Decision details mandatory indicators, such as the adoption of modern techniques, stable income generation, and effective natural resource management. Families must demonstrate technical proficiency, while villages and districts are evaluated on collective infrastructure and organizational capacity. The Department of Agricultural Extension and Cooperatives is tasked with coordinating the monitoring and evaluation process.