Title of document: What place for an agroecological rice technique in rain fed lowland rice systems? - Case study of the SRS in Xieng Khuang Province, Laos Authors: Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: ISTOM, CTI, GRET Year of publication: 2017 Geographic focus: Lao PDR Main issues / topics addressed (for example: Context of the study of the System of Rice Intensification; Methodological framework and Data collection; Results: Dissemination, adoption and performance of SRS; Discussions and conclusion ……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: With the growing concern about food security in the northern part of Laos, it is critical to address the issue of sustainable intensification of food production, especially the staple food: rice. In this context, the presented study is designed to evaluate the performance and sustainability of a recent agro-ecological rice cropping technique, named the Sustainable Rice System (SRS).  This innovation, introduced in rain-fed lowland systems, is compared to traditional rice growing practices in the study area of Kham District,  Xieng  Khuang Province. The conduction of the study goes through the understanding of real diversity of practices, which has the result of a distinction between one-seedling practices, named as SRS, and the multipleseedling practices. Then, the emphasis on the SRS group demonstrates its status in the area as well as the benefits and disadvantages. In order to assess the sustainability of the SRS, the study tries to go beyond only using the “yield” indicator as the “be all and end all”, through the three mainstays dimensions of agro ecology; Social, Economic and Environmental. This shows that, even if the yield is not the primary benefit of the technique, farmers are still interested in adopting it as it provides other benefits. Nevertheless, all of the effects are not positive, and the durability of the technique does not seem to be fully guaranteed. This study therefore introduces many key answers to the questions addressed and presents a first overview to pave the way for following studies.   Read More

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 Journal’s name if any: 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 ……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): 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.   Read More

Title of document: Concept Note for NUDP:  Learning from Longlan Village Authors: Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: NUDP Year of publication: Geographic focus: Lao PDR Main issues / topics addressed (for example: an introduction Longlan Village and Why is resilience important; What can NUDP learn from Ban Longlan?……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: A short visit to Ban Longlan on the border of Luang Prabang and Phonxai Districts provides an idyllic picture of village life in the mountains of Northern Laos.  High above the valley, amid karst peaks and mature forest, the Hmong inhabitants of Longlan appear to have escaped the poverty that affects so many other upland communities. The Northern Upland of Laos, where Ban Longlan is located, have often been characterised as poor and remote.  If may be more useful, however, to describe the region as highly diverse and highly dynamic. Ban Longlan is a success story.  This is the kind of success that the Northern Upland Development Programme wants to achieve in many other locations.  There are unique circumstances behind every story, but there are also lessons that can be applied elsewhere.   Read More

Title of document: Agroecology and the Search for a Truly Sustainable Agriculture - 1st edition Authors: Miguel A. Altieri and Clara I. Nicholls Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: UN; PNUMA; University of California Year of publication: 2005 Geographic focus: Global level Main issues / topics addressed (for example: Modern Agriculture: Ecological impacts and the alternatives to conventional farming; Agroecology: principles and strategies for designing sustainable farming systems; the ecological impacts of transgenic crops; an agroecological basis for insect pest management……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: There is increasing evidence that warns that the growing push toward industrialization and globalization of the world’s agriculture and food supply imperils the future of humanity and the natural world. Industrial agriculture which is corporate controlled, and promotes agrochemically based, monocultural, export-oriented systems are negatively impacting public health, ecosystem integrity, food quality and nourishment, traditional rural livelihoods, and indigenous and local cultures, while accelerating indebtedness among millions of farmers, and their separation from lands that have historically fed communities and families. This transition is increasing hunger, landlessness, homelessness, despair and suicides among farmers. Meanwhile, it is also degrading the planet’s life support systems, and increasing alienation of peoples from nature and the historic, cultural and natural connection of farmers and all other people to the sources of food and sustenance. Finally, it is also destroying the economic and cultural foundations of societies, undermines security and peace, and creates a context for social disintegration and violence. By confronting myth with reality, the objective of this book is to challenge the false promises made by the genetic engineering industry. The industry has promised that genetically engineered crops will move agriculture away from a dependence on chemical inputs, increase productivity, decrease input costs, and help reduce environmental problems (Office of Technology Assessment, 1992). Another agriculture is not only possible, it is already happening taking a multitude of expressions of alternative agriculture, from various variations of organic agriculture to more peasant based, subsistence oriented traditional agriculture. In this book we explore the extent, features and ecological, social and economic benefits of both forms of sustainable agriculture. In this report the agroecological features of organic agriculture as practiced in North America and Europe, and of traditional agriculture involving millions of small farmers and/or peasants in the developing world are described with emphasis on their contribution to food security, conservation/ regeneration of biodiversity and natural resources and economic viability. The book also depicts an agroecological path to reach a truly sustainable, biodiverse and socially just agriculture   Read More

Title of document: Ecosystem approach for drought resistant home gardening in Central Dry Zone, Myanmar Authors: Luca Nichetti Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: ALiSEA, GRET, AFD Year of publication: 2018 Geographic focus: Myanmar Main issues / topics addressed (for example: Project objectives; Activities……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: The presentation of the Annual General Meeting of ALiSEA Myanmar, 19-24 February 2018, in Myanmar   Read More

Title of document: Organic (Participatory Guarantee System) PGS system initiative in Myanmar “Improvement of Organic – PGS Certification Awareness (ALiSEA)” Authors: Dr. Than Than Sein Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: MOGPA, ALiSEA Year of publication: 2018 Geographic focus: Myanmar Main issues / topics addressed (for example: PGS Introduction to Myanmar with ADB+ IFOAM; History and Concept of PGS; MOGPA Activities + PGS ……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: The presentation of the Annual General Meeting of ALiSEA Myanmar, 19-24 February 2018, in Myanmar   Read More

Title of document: Myanmar Institute for Integrated Development (MIID) Authors: MIID Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: MIID Year of publication: 2018 Geographic focus: Myanmar Main issues / topics addressed (for example: About MIID; Partners and Collaborators; Main Activities; Project Goals……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: The presentation of the Annual General Meeting of ALiSEA Myanmar, 19-24 February 2018, in Myanmar   Read More

Title of document: CANSEA Grants: ACTAE Regional Project “Farmers Participatory Approach on Soil and Water Conservation Practices, Case Study:  Inle Lake Watershed Area” Authors: Thin Nwe Htwe Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: ACTAE, MOALI, GRET Year of publication: 2018 Geographic focus: Myanmar Main issues / topics addressed (for example: Background; Problems / Challenges; Main Activities; Next Activities……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: The presentation of the Annual General Meeting of ALiSEA Myanmar, 19-24 February 2018, in Myanmar   Read More

Title of document: ECHO: Introduction and Overview Authors: Abram J. Bicksler Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: ECHO, ALiSEA Year of publication: 2018 Geographic focus: Myanmar Main issues / topics addressed (for example: about ECHO; Context and Overview CSSDD learning Centre……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: The presentation of the Annual General Meeting of ALiSEA Myanmar, 19-24 February 2018, in Myanmar   Read More

Title of document: Agroecology for resilient and sustainable livelihoods of natural disaster affected groups: Documenting case studies Authors: Laura Kmoch Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Chalmers University of Technology Year of publication: 2018 Geographic focus: Myanmar Main issues / topics addressed (for example: about Division of Physical Resource Theory (Sweden) and Are Yone Oo – Social Development Association (Myanmar); Documenting case studies……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: The presentation of the Annual General Meeting of ALiSEA Myanmar, 19-24 February 2018, in Myanmar   Read More