Title of document: Risk Perception and Lowland Rice Farming Change in Savannakhet Province, Southern Laos
Authors/editor: Chanthavisouk Ninchaluene, Santi Piyadeth, Ian G. Baird
Journal’s name if any: European Journal of East Asian Studies
Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: Savannakhet University, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Year of publication: 2021
Geographic focus: Lao PDR
Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …)
School of agroecology (if any):
Web address to original document (if any):
Summary:
Lowland rice cultivation is changing in southern Laos. A formalised survey and informal interviews in the lowlands of Savannakhet Province indicate that while some farmers still raise water buffaloes, farmers now mainly use hand-held mechanised ploughs to till their fields. More chemical fertilisers are being used, and improved seed varieties have become dominant, with native varieties disappearing. Due to these changes, rice yields have increased substantially, with many more farmers selling surplus rice. The trade-offs are, however, not simple…