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

Southern Xayabury Province

 
Southern Xayaburi province has long been at the forefront of rural economic development in the Lao PDR. Over the past twenty years, livelihoods have undergone drastic changes and agriculture has become increasingly linked to the demand of the Thai market. At the same time, similar to the 1970s’ agrarian transition in northern Thailand, agricultural systems have shifted from traditional shifting cultivation systems based on fallowing, slash-and-burn and crop rotations to more intensive systems based on heavy mechanized tillage, pesticides and hybrid seeds. Responding to an important demand by local traders, smallholders have engaged massively in maize mono-cropping and have rapidly generated important profits. As a result, the area planted in maize in southern Xayaboury province has expanded rapidly to cover more than 42,000 ha, that is, more than 88% of the total rainfed area cultivated in 2008.

 

Although livelihoods have certainly been improved on the short term, on the longer term, this dual process of agricultural intensification and expansion can have very negative social and ecological impacts, including increased soil erosion (leading to destruction of roads and siltation of paddy fields), gradual soil exhaustion, chemical pollution of soils and hydrological systems, and increased risk of human intoxication by pesticides. In the light of these various threats and since 2003, the National Agro-Ecology Programme (PRONAE) of Laos has been developing and adapting Direct seeding Mulch-based Cropping (DMC) systems through a participatory approach involving village communities and farmer groups. After 2006 and based on PRONAE’s research results, the PASS-PCADR – a rural development project active in the 4 southern districts of Xayaburi province – has started the dissemination of DMC systems on a larger scale.

 

Read more: presentation by Frédéric Jullien and Bounmy Rattanatray (PASS - PCADR), 14th of July 2009 at NAFRI; presentation by Hoà Tran Quoc and Chanthasone Khamxaykhay (PRONAE - PCADR), February 2007; validation with farmer groups (PRONAE - PCADR), February 2007

Documents
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A case study in the Mekong Corridor. Regional Workshop ... Featured

Between 2005 and 2008, extensive surveys were carried out in order to: (1) assess the socioeconomic outcomes of the DMC systems at the household level, (2) estimate the level of dissemination of the DMC systems at the community level, and (3) determine the factors conditioning smallholders’ adoption or rejection of the DMC systems. Surveys were carried out by the PRONAE in 4 villages (462 smallholders) and the PASS-PCADR in 21 villages (2160 smallholders). The results of these surveys show that there are currently more than 1,200 smallholders using DMC systems on a total of about 1,500 ha of cultivated land. Overall, the rates and levels of DMC systems’ adoption by smallholders appear more important in areas where the environment is the most degraded and/or particularly fragile. With significant levels of crop diversification and engagement in off-farm or non-farm activities, livelihoods in general appear more diversified in these areas. These trends can be considered as ‘risk avoidance’ strategie ...
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Issues concerning the adoption. International conferenc... Featured

Despite agronomic and economic successes, various constraints limit the dissemination of these systems. A gender-disaggregated survey was carried out with all groups of smallholders to identify the main constraints of this first level of DMC systems on residues. The major limiting factors appear to be: i) drudgery of labour for land preparation, so limiting cultivated area; ii) access to inputs (market and financial constraints); iii) problems of appropriate equipment for sowing; iv) technical skills required; and v) calendar flexibility.

Improving cropping systems by introducing Conservation ... Featured

This report is the outcome of a three-month study conducted by two consultants with the support of the PCADR, PASS and PRONAE project teams. The study is aimed at informing policy and decision-makers, managers of research and extension agencies as well as research/extension practitioners about: (i) the adoption of Conservation Agriculture by the farmers of the four southern districts of Sayaboury province, and (ii) the potential for adoption of the approach for disseminating Conservation Agriculture. Importantly, through a review of project documents, an analysis of existing databases, interviews with relevant stakeholders (farmers, traders, service providers, project staffs, PAFO and DAFEO technicians and managers), the study provides recommendations on the potential for further dissemination of Conservation Agriculture and the adaptation of the dissemination approach to other contexts.Read more: Slaat and Lestrelin Report  



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