Title of document: Sustainable Intensification of Tropical Agro-Ecosystems: Need and Potentials   Authors: Christain Andres and Gurbir S. Bhullar Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Frontiers in Environment Science Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Tropical zone Url original document: www.frontiersin.org Summary: Rapid population growth, increasingly complex economies and novel industrial uses of agricultural products call for further intensification of agriculture, particularly in the tropics. How to achieve sustainable intensification of food production systems in tropical regions that are challenged by ongoing climate change, loss of natural resources and biodiversity is a matter of debate. Here we highlight the major knowledge gaps in agricultural research and policy that must be addressed to develop adequate governance and regulatory frameworks for sustainable agricultural intensification.   Read More

Title of document: Rush for cash crops and forest protection: Neither and sparing nor land sharing   Authors: Thoumthone Vongvisouk, Rikke Brandt Broegaard, Ole Mertz, Sithong Thongmanivong Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Journal of Land Use Policy Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Laos Url original document: www.elsevier.com/located/landusepol Summary: In many countries with large tracts of tropical forest. There is a dual focus on enhancing forest protection and increasing commercial agricultural for economic devlopment. Laos is a case in point for this deveopment as the government of Laos has a strong commitment to economic growth, with rural farmers in part help realize through a rush for cash crop production destine to be sold in neighboring countries. Maze cultivation, for example,  is rappidly expanding and grown under a Contract Farming System for Vietnamess market. At the same time, government of Laos attempts to increase nationwide forest cover and prepares for REDD+ (reducing deforestation and forest degradation). This paper explores how the recent boom in cash crops is impacting land use and livelihood local communities, as well as affecting forest conservation in Hua Meuang district of Huaphan province in the northeastern Laos. It also examines how local authorities react to these changes and navigate the contradicting policies. Further more the paper analyzes to what extent the land sparing intention of land and forest land allocation policies are fulfilled.   Read More

Title of document: Decision of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry on Organic Agriculture Standards   Authors: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Year of publication: 2011 Geographic focus: Laos Url original document: http://faolex.fao.org/cgi-bin/faolex.exe?rec_id=141126&database=faolex&search_type=link&table=result&lang=eng&format_name=@ERALL Summary: This version of the Lao Organic Standards is a translation of the Lao Organic Standards, edited by a native English speaker and might not reflect all times the full and precise meaning of the Lao version. The Lao standards are developed on the basis of models developed by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) and Agriculture Certification Thailand (ACT). The present standards will undergo periodic revision in order to reflect changes in production and marketing and growing experience of Lao stakeholders in organic agriculture.   Read More

Title of document: Myanmar: Analysis of Farm Production Economics   Authors: World Bank Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: World Bank Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Myanmar Url original document: https://www.google.la/?gws_rd=cr&ei=wzpZV9G3Cp6UvQTSr6CwAQ#q=Myanmar:+Analysis+of+Farm+Production+Economics Summary: Both World Bank and Livelihoods and Food Security Multi-Donor Trust Fund (LIFT) are actively involved in supporting Myanmar’s agriculture sector given its significance in poverty reduction and food security, and they both consider the lack of reliable farm data to be a significant constraint to designing effective programs and policies. This report fills some of the data gaps. The presentated results are based on a 2013/14 Myanmar agricultural survey of 1,728 farm households in four regions of Myanmar that covered major crops grown in the surveyed regions during the monsoon and dry seasons. These crops include beans and pulses, oil seeds, and maize.   Read More

Title of document: Agroecology: A global Paradigm to Challenges Mainstreams Industrial Agriculture   Authors: Hector Valenzuela Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Horticulturae Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Global Url original document: www.mdpi.com/journal/horticulturae Summary: Considerable controversy continues to exist in scientific and policy circles about how to tackle issues of global hunger, malnutrition, and rural economic decline, as well as environmental issues, such as biodiversity loss and climate change adaptation. On the one hand, powerful vested interests, with close ties to government, media, and academic institutions, propose high input technology-based solutions, speculative and neoliberal « market-based » solutions, and export-oriented agricultural models. On the other hand, an international scientific and grassroots Food Movement has emerged, calling for a redesign of Global Food System in support of small-scale agroecological farming systems.   Read More

Title of document: Farmer Field School Guidance Document: Planning for quality programmes   Authors: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Global Url original document: https://www.google.la/?gws_rd=cr&ei=wzpZV9G3Cp6UvQTSr6CwAQ#q=Farmer+Field+School+Guidance+Document:+Planning+for+quality+programmes+ Summary: Every day we learn more about the global challenges facing food production : global warming, extreme weather, intercontinental invasions by pests and diseases, land degradation and water loss from over-exploitation, and price volatility. Farming, fishing and agroforestry systems are becoming more complex, but we are also learning how local agro-ecosystems provide the underlying services - soil nutrient cycling, pest and dideases regulation, water capture and storage, pollination, genetic resources conservation, coastal protection for aquatic species and from storms that enable farmers to adapt to those challenges.   Read More

Title of document: Farmers’ Voices Authors: NAFES Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: MAF Year of publication: 2010 Geographic focus: Laos Url original document: http://laocs-kis.org/resources/farmers-voices-2010/ Summary: What do the farmers of Laos talk about when they get together? What are farmers saying about environment and rural livelihood? What do they consider to be their most valuable assets? What are their most trusted sources of advice? What do they think about the changes taking place around them? And what type of future do farmers want for themselves and their family?   Read More

Title of document: Multiple pathways: Case studies of sustainable agriculture in china   Authors: Qiao Yuhui, Qi Gubo, Seth Cook, Lila Buckley, Song Yiching, Zhang Yanyan, Zhang Li, He Xueqing, Friederike Martin, Yue Shizong and Wang Zhen. Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: IIED Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: China Url original document: http://pubs.iied.org/17579IIED Summary: Chinese agriculture currently faces major environmental challenges. China’s applications of fertilizers and pesticides are among the highest in the world, which in turn has negative impacts on human health and environment. Soil erosion and soil pollution are widespread, as is the loss of agricultural biodiversity as high-yielding hybrid crop varieties replace traditional landraces. Water scarcity affects many parts of the country, as evidenced by plummeting water tables in northern China. Meanwhile, food safety risks – exemplified by a series of well-publicized incidents such as the 2008 milk-melamine scandal are a source of great public anxiety.   Read More

Title of document: Study of farmer experiences and approaches with mechanised dry direct seeding in Savannakhet province   Authors: Liz Clarke, Tamara Jackson, Khamlouang Keoka and Viengsavanh Phimphachanvongsod Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: CIAT Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Laos Url original document: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299627239_Study_of_farmer_experiences_and_approaches_with_mechanised_dry_direct_seeding_in_Savannakhet_province#pf3 Summary: Mechanised dry direct seeding (DDS) is a crop establishment technique that reduces labour requirements, and offers flexibility in terms of earlier planting times. This technique has been tested for many years in southern Lao PDR, including more recently by several research and development projects concurrently in Savannakhet province, and there has been a trend of increasing adoption among farmers. In this province in the wet season of 2015, over 800 ha was planted using the DDS technique, in comparison to around 80 ha in the previous year. This rapid increase requires an understanding of the motivations, experiences and outcomes for farmers, in order to understand the innovation process, and to identify methods to support the uptake and outscaling of this technique.   Read More

Title of document: Climate Resilient Agriculture: Educational/Training Posters Series Authors: Julian Gonsalves Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: CIAT Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Southeast Asia Url original document: https://ccafs.cgiar.org/publications/climate-resilient-agriculture-educationaltraining-posters-series#.V01EUiGwEgg Summary: These posters are based on key messages derived from a sourcebook of reading/reference materials in a companion production entitled "Towards Climate Resilience in Agriculture for Southeast Asia - An Overview for Decision-makers". They were produced by CIAT with CCAFs funding for an FP1.1 project entitled “Integrated agricultural technologies for enhanced adaptive capacity and resilient livelihoods in climate-smart villages (CSVs) of Southeast Asia”. These posters are designed for use in training or educational events, primarily for starting discussions on important issues facing agriculture in a changing climate. The poster series cover a range of topics/ issues related to climate change in agriculture.They can be used one at a time, and not necessarily in any particular sequence. These pictures can also be enlarged to serve as educational posters, displayed one at a time. They can be used in power point presentations . The illustrations can serve as prototypes for local adaptation and further improvement by local artists. Any use of the illustrations should provide adequate credits to the source   Read More