2024, Volume 27, Paper 9
ISSN: 2209-6612
Current Issues in Rice Production in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Alexandria Sinnett – School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville.
Chinthani Rathnayake – School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville.
Chitpasong Kousonsavath – Department of Rural Economics and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos, Vientiane.
Fue Yang – Department of Rural Economics and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos, Vientiane.
Lytoua Chialue – Department of Rural Economics and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos, Vientiane.
Margaret Ayre – School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville.
Garry Griffith – School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville.
Bill Malcolm – School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville.
John Mullen – Private Consultant, Orange.
Abstract
Rice is a staple crop for commercial and subsistence rice farmers in the Lao PDR. Rice cultivation covers about 60 per cent of the arable land. Rice consumption per capita in the Lao PDR is among the highest in the world, accounting for 80 per cent of the daily calorie and protein intake of rural people. Most rice farm businesses/households produce rice using conventional practices (using inorganic fertilisers, some may use herbicides and pesticides, and there is a large reliance on labour). The aim of this paper is to shed light on the issues/challenges facing these farm businesses/households. Generally, the main goals of a rice farm business/household are to produce sufficient rice to meet household needs and, ideally, have rice available to sell. These farm businesses are facing a challenging economic environment, a policy environment that is focused on sustainable agriculture, and the usual challenges of weather, but with the added element of a changing climate, and increasing competition for labour. In this paper, these challenges/issues are further explored. This research forms the starting point for a small research activity funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, titled ‘Assessing the Social and Economic Implications of Changing to Low-input and Organic Rice Production in Lao PDR’. Understanding the issues facing rice farm businesses/households will provide important background knowledge for this research project.
Key words: rice farming systems, Lao PDR, sustainable agriculture
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