Title of document: To till or not to till? The diffusion of conservation agriculture in Xieng Khouang province, Lao PDR Authors: Guillaume Lestrelin, Khamla Nanthavong, Etienne Jobard, Anousith Keophoxay, Pascal Lienhard, Chanxay Khambanseuang, and Jean-Christophe Castella Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: IRD UPV Montpellier; NAFRI; CIRAD; CIFOR Year of publication: 2010 Geographic focus: Laos School of agroecology: Conservation Agriculture Over the past decade, efforts have been made to promote conservation agriculture as an ecologically sound alternative to tillage-based agriculture in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). This paper assesses some of the outcomes of a five-year research project aimed at developing sustainable no-till cropping and pasture systems and promoting their adoption by smallholders in Xieng Khouang province. Based on extensive household surveys in 20 villages, it highlights key environmental and socioeconomic factors influencing the adoption and diffusion of conservation agriculture. Finally, it provides policy recommendations to facilitate agricultural innovation and provide greater incentives for farmers to shift towards more sustainable farming practices.   Read More

Title of document: Lao National Agro-Ecology Programme PRONAE PCADR / Development and Implementation of Direct Seeding Mulch-Based Cropping Systems in South-East Asia / Case studies from the Lao National Agro-Ecology Edited by: F. Tivet, H. Tran Quoc, P. Lienhard, A. Chabanne and K. Panyasiri Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: NAFRI; Cirad Year of publication: 2005 Geographic focus: Laos School of agroecology: Conservation Agriculture Farming is changing throughout Laos, with traditional slash-and-burn giving way to more modern agricultural methods in many areas. In southern Xayabury for example, traditional rotational cultivation has been replaced by cash crops such as maize, rice-beans, peanuts, Job’s tears and sesame. Such development, when not carefully managed, can quickly deplete soils and nutrients. Maize is now widely sown and spreads to new areas every year: more than 15,000 ha was sown in southern Xayabury in 2004. Land preparation based on burning residues and ploughing on steep slopes has allowed for cultivation of large upland areas. However, within a few years this generates heavy soil degradation and depletion of natural resources, especially when crop rotation is abandoned. In many degraded areas of southern Xayabury, smallholders have modified conventional land preparation and are shifting from ploughing to herbicides.   Read More

Title of document: UPDATE STUDY ON AGRARIAN CHANGES AND THE STATUS OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN SOUTHERN SAYABOURY PROVINCE Guillaume Lestrelin June Author: Guillaume Lestrelin Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Cirad; DALaM; AFD; European Union Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: Laos School of agroecology: Conservation Agriculture Between 2001 and 2009, the four districts of Boten, Kenthao, Paklay and Thongmixay in southern Sayaboury Province have been targeted by two AFD-funded projects dealing with research and extension of Conservation Agriculture (CA), namely the “Programme National Agro-Ecologie” (PRONAE) and the “Programme de Capitalisation en Appui à la Politique de Développement Rural - Point d'Application du Sud de la province de Sayaboury” (PASS). PRONAE was essentially focused on technical research and experimentation on Conservation Agriculture in a few localities while PASS was engaged in the dissemination of the research results among farmers of the four districts. In 2008, PASS had set up CA farmer groups in 44 villages, involving about 1100 households and 1500 ha of land cultivated with direct seeding mulch-based cropping systems.   Read More

Title of document: KNOWLEDGE CAPITALIZATION ON THE CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND IN SAYABOURY PROVINCE (2008-2014) Author: Guillaume Lestrelin Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Cirad; DALaM; AFD; European Union Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: Laos School of agroecology: Conservation Agriculture Between 2001 and 2009, the four districts of Boten, Kenthao, Paklay and Thongmixay in southern Sayaboury Province have been targeted by two AFD-funded projects dealing with research and extension of Conservation Agriculture (CA), namely the “Programme National Agro-Ecologie” (PRONAE) and the “Programme de Capitalisation en Appui à la Politique de Développement Rural - Point d'Application du Sud de la province de Sayaboury” (PCADR-PASS). PRONAE was essentially focused on technical research and experimentation on Conservation Agriculture in a few localities while PCADR-PASS was engaged in the dissemination of the research results among farmers of the four districts. In 2008, PCADR-PASS had set up CA farmer groups in 44 villages, involving about 1100 households and 1500 ha of land cultivated with direct seeding mulch-based cropping systems.   Read More

Title of document: AGRARIAN CHANGES IN SOUTHERN SAYABOURY PROVINCE 2005-2014 AND THE STATUS OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE Authors: Dr. Guillaume Lestrelin (EFICAS-NUDP/CA); Mr. Xayavong Chantasone (CADF Secretariat); Mr. Bounmy Rattanatray (CADF Secretariat) Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Cirad; DALaM; AFD, European Union Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: Laos School of agroecology: Conservation Agriculture This report aims at providing up-to-date information and analysis on the recent socioeconomic and agricultural changes and the current status of Conservation Agriculture (CA) in villages of southern Sayaboury Province targeted by the PRONAE and PCADR-PASS projects between 2004 and 2009. In 2008, these projects had set up farmer groups in 44 villages, involving about 1 100 households and 1,500 ha of land cultivated with direct seeding mulch- and maize-based cropping systems. Questionnaire surveys had also been conducted annually in 21 villages of Boten, Kenthao, Paklay and Tongmixay districts in order to monitor agro-economic changes and the adoption of CA. Before the end of the PCADR-PASS project in 2009, a Conservation Agriculture Development Fund (CADF) was set up to continue supporting agricultural extension activities. Since then, the CADF has been supplied by a 10 LAK per kilogram tax on maize sales and exports collected in 10 districts of Sayaboury Province. Between 2010 and 2014, the Fund supported traders and farmers associations, through field demonstration activities, capacity building of farmers in the field of CA, and promotion of contract farming systems for agri-input supply. Between November 2014 and February 2015, a study was coordinated by the EFICAS-NUDP/CA project in order to take stock of these experiences of promotion of CA. Under the supervision of the CADF Secretariat and in collaboration with the Agricultural and Forestry Offices, the 21 villages monitored by PCADR-PASS between 2005 and 2008 were revisited with questionnaire surveys conducted   Read More

Title of document: Status of Community Based Forest Management in Lao PDR Authors: Khamphay Manivong and Phouthone Sophathilath Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: RECOFTC; NAFRI Year of publication: 2007 Geographic focus: Laos School of agroecology: Agro-forestry Community involvement in forest management was (first) introduced in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) in 1989 when the First National Forestry Conference declared the new forest policy direction toward sustainable forest management. In this policy the government officially recognized the importance of local people’s participation in forest management. To ensure the new forest policy’s direction, the Government developed a Tropical Forestry Action Plan (TFAP) in 1990 and officially adopted it one year later. It was the first forest development program that advocated people’s participation in forest management (DOF, 2000). Another important policy instrument that shaped community based natural resource management in the 1990s was the Land Use Planning and Land Allocation Policy, which recognized the rights of local people to use and manage natural resources. It also encouraged local people’s participation in the management planning and protection of the forest. Since then a number of community based forest management (CBFM) models have been developed, tested and applied under different forest and socio-economic conditions in the country. However, whilst various lessons and experiences have been gained from these different models, these experiences have not always been widely documented, exchanged and coordinated.   Read More

Title of document: Institutionalizing Agroforestry as a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy through Local Capacity and Policy Development in Southeast Asia Authors/collaborators: Lutgarda L. Tolentino, Philippine Agroforestry Education and Research Network, Philippines; Bao Huy, Vietnam Network for Agroforestry Education, Vietnam; Pramoth Kheowvongsri, Thailand Network for Agroforestry Education, Thailand; Anoulom Vilayphone, Lao Network for Agroforestry Education, Lao PDR; Awang Noord Ghani, Malaysia Network for Agroforestry Education, Malaysia. Geographic focus: Laos School of agroecology: Agro-forestry Several studies and literature have indicated the relevance of agroforestry as one of the climate change adaptation strategies of the agriculture sector, particularly those in the marginal areas, which are the most vulnerable areas to the impacts of climate change. This report highlights the experiences of PAFERN in implementing the project ‘Institutionalizing Agroforestry as a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy via Local Capacity and Policy Development in Southeast Asia”, with the hope of inspiring other regional and national institutions in Southeast Asia to collaborate and come up with proactive and more intensive information dissemination and capacity-building programs to enhance the capacities of the upland farmers, agricultural technicians and extension workers of the local government units, academic and research institutions to adapt to the impacts of climate change.   Read More

Title of document: Indigenous Agroforestry Practices of Northern Laos Year of publication: 2003 Geographic focus: Laos School of agroecology: Agro-forestry Shifting cultivation is the most common agricultural practice among farmers in the northern uplands of the Lao PDR. Alongside this agricultural practice many types of indigenous agroforestry systems have been practiced for many decades as people use the forests and forested land to grow different crops. Such practices range from a few silvicultural treatments in the natural forest to get a desired product to highly advanced systems where trees, animals and plants grow together so that they can benefit from each other. This article focuses on describing key indigenous agroforestry systems practiced in northern Laos.   Read More

Title of document: Agroforestry and livelihoods in Lao PDR: Case studies in Napo and Haitai village, Vientiane Province Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: National University of Laos (NUOL), Vientiane, Laos; in cooperation with VITRI/University of Helsinki, and Kasetsart University, Bangkok; under the framework of the FORMEB project of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Institutional Cooperation Instrument (ICI). Year of publication: 2009 Geographic focus: Laos School of agroecology: Agro-forestry A field survey has been conducted to find out information on livelihood and agroforestry of the study area. The study was carried out in two villages of Sangthong District viz, Napo and Haitai. The study was carried out during 14-15th September 2009. The study was based on both primary and secondary data. For the primary data collection, socio-economic survey of 10 villagers has been carried out with a semi questionnaire format. Families were selected upon their dependence on agroforestry for their livelihood. In addition, most of respondents were found illiterate. Paddy is dominant crop in agricultural field and rice selling is the principle source of their income. Although there are several source of income generation activities available like, cattle, buffalo raising, NTFP collection, labour selling, etc. however, villagers overall income still quite low. Both the villages require lots of infrastructure establishment to uplift socio-economic condition. The gender role reveals that, the female working together with male is more efficiently for contributing in the crop filed in various activities.   Read More

Title of document: Exploration of teak agroforestry systems in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR Prepared by: Dr Mark Dieters, The University of Queensland Co-authors/contributors/collaborators: Mr Somphanh Sakanphet, Upland Research Center; Mr Houmchitsavath Sodarak, Upland Research Center; Mr Sianouvong Savathvong, Souphanouvong University; Dr Outhai Soukkhy, Northern Agric.& Forestry College; Mr Bounkieng Souliyasak, Northern Agric. & Forestry College; Mrs Khonpanh Kanyavong, Agriculture Research Center; Dr Jonathan Newby, The University of Queensland. Approved by: Mr Tony Bartlett, Research Program Manager for Forestry, ACIAR Year of publication: 2014 Geographic focus: Laos School of agroecology: Agro-forestry The accumulated smallholder teak woodlots in Luang Prabang comprise a significant forest resource, comprising 60% of the approx. 25,000 ha of teak plantation in this region of northern Laos. FST/2004/057 commenced in 2008 to investigate improvements of the silivicultural management of these woodlots, and was granted a one-year extension from 2012-2013. The work conducted under the small research activity described in this report was undertaken over a 15 month period in Luang Prabang province, ending in June 2013, to support the transition between an existing ACIAR project (FST/2004/057) and a new project (FST/2012/041) with a much stronger focus on teak-based agroforestry systems.   Read More