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.:: Lao Knowledge Base on Conservation Agriculture ::.

Improving smallholder income generation by integrating DMC by-products into pig raising activities Featured

Author(s)
F. Jullien, S. Khampa, B. Rattanatray, S. Kang-air, B. Vongvichit, V. Phanlak, A.Philakoun
Media Type
Conference
Published in
Regional Workshop on Conservation Agriculture, Phonsavanh, Xieng Khouang, Lao PDR
Publication Date
2008-10-28
To
2008-11-01
Improving smallholder income generation by integrating DMC by-products into pig raising activities
In the four southern districts of Sayaboury province, farmers’ livelihoods primarily depend on rainfed maize cultivation. On average, maize production contributes to 66% of farmers’ annual incomes. That contribution even reaches 80% in Paklay district. The current farming systems – based on intensive monocropping and mining practices (i.e. ploughing on steep slopes, hybrid seeds, and heavy use of pesticides) – involve high production costs and engender a rapid decline in agricultural yields. In order to remedy this situation and improve farmers’ livelihoods, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Lao PDR launched the PASS-PCADR project with financial support from AFD. The main objectives of this project are related to: (i) soil and environmental conservation, (ii) the improvement and diversification of farmers’ incomes, and (iii) the improvement of agricultural marketing. Alongside DMC extension activities, PASS-PCADR is working to improve smallholder pig raising systems. Improvement involves all the production factors (pig pen, feed, health and genetics) with different levels of intensification, depending on the farmer's strategy. Technical and economic performance was monitored in 2006 and 2007, with 32 families, for short-term fattening of 155 pigs. Good results were obtained with an average of 30 USD/head net profit for the more intensive system. Read more: presentation by Frédéric Jullien and poster


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