Title of document: Development in Practice: Commercialising smallholder agricultural production in Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Authors: Kim Alexander, Peter Case, Michael Jones and John Connell
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Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Rutledge
Year of publication: 2017
Geographic focus: Lao PDR
Main issues / topics addressed (for example: Agricultural innovation system: actors and institutions; Methodology; Discussion of agricultural innovation systems; Conclusion ……)
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Summary:
Many smallholder farmers in Lao People’s Democratic Republic are transitioning from subsistence to commercial production. This article employs the Agriculture Innovation System (AIS) framework to report on empirical findings from six case studies of Lao smallholder production. It identifies the actors, organisations, and institutions involved in systemic commercialization of subsistence farming and articulates patterns of interactions that contribute to the relative success of the transition. Of the factors identified in the case studies, the most important enablers of commercial production and adoption of innovative technologies were technical and financial assistance, access to markets, and the formation of farmer associations/organisations.