Geographical Location

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1 IHDP Open Meeting 2009, April in Bonn, Germany Diversity in the Uplands as Factor of Adaptation to Environmental Changes Case Studies from Luang Prabang and Oudomxay Provinces, Lao PDR Linkham Douangsavanh anh and Jean-Christophe Castella National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute Lao PDR Geographical Location China (505 km in the north) Vietnam (2,069 km in the east) Myanmar (236 km in the north-west) Thailand (1,835 km in the west) Cambodia (435 km in the south) Saengouthai and Khomvikith 2 1

2 National Development Vision to the Year 2020: Exit from the status of least developed country Sustainable development Regional Integration Economic Social Sustainable Development Environment 3 Share in GDP by Sectors in % 49% 24% Agriculture Industry Services 4 2

3 Lao Expenditure & Consumption Survey % 30 38,6 % % LECS I LECS II LECS III POLICIES FOR THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS The government of the Lao PDR has a national policy to eliminate upland rice production under slash-and-burn shifting cultivation systems. Non-shifting, more ecologically stable systems, with land management by villages and individual households, are to be introduced. 3

4 IN THE SLOPING LANDS, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT THRUSTS ARE: Land use zoning; Participatory land allocation; Community based natural resource management; Farming systems diversification; Expansion of small-scale irrigation systems; Sustainable land use management; Rural savings mobilization; Competitive rural finance systems; Improving communities access to markets. BIOPHYSICAL CHARATERISTICS OF THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS Northern: The mountainous region with elevations over 1,000 m; Step slopes has a moist to dry sub-tropical climate; Annual rainfall between 1,500 to 2,000 mm; Soil in the north ten to be acidic and low water retention capacity; Generally low fertility; Farmers mainly concerned with shifting i cultivation. i Two case study sites 4

5 PHONSAY Huayman Nambo Ethnic Groups Khmu, Hmong Hmong, Khmu, Lao Loum Households Source of Population Increase Distinctive Characteristics 51 Relocation Longest period of rice shortage, least farmland, most forest plantation land, most socially stratified (10 landless families & 1 landlord) 55 Spontaneous migration Most padi land/capita, greatest variety of cash crops, most innovative farmers, 10 Day Market Thapho Lao Loum 118 Relocation Largest village, 2 nd most paddy land/capita, Huaymaha Khmu, 92 Relocation Most hai/capita, largest relocated population, Hmong land disputes NAMO Namo Nua Tai Dam 82 Pop. growth Most livestock/capita, 2 nd most paid land/capita, not a relocation village, old village, most developed income alternatives Mixay Hmong 14 Relocation Smallest village, sells hed daeng to China, needs community forestry Phousang Phousang 25 Spontaneous migration Rare ethnic group, refused relocation, most swidden, longest fallows Pangdou Khmu, 31 Relocation Longest period of rice shortage Hmong Pangthong Hmong 49 Relocation Most padi land/capita, most innovative farmers HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOOD SYSTEM BASIC NEEDS SUPPLY SYSTEMS PRODUCTION SUBSYSTEMS (Components of Basic Needs Subsystems) Direct Needs (outputs consumed directly by the household) FOOD Crops, livestock, fish, NTFPs, purchased foods ENERGY Firewood from forests & fallows, crop residues, etc. SHELTER Timber, NTFPs, purchased MEDICINE Medicinal plants, purchased medicines CASH Short term cash crops, livestock, NTFPs, cottage industries + SAVINGS/INVESTMENT Long term savings/investments in livestock, trees, banks, farm improvements + Indirect Needs (major inputs for producing outputs t that t are consumed by the household) h FEED FOR LIVESTOCK Grasses, forage, crop residues, feed crops RAW MATERIAL FOR COTTAGE INDUSTRY NTFPs, timber, crops, purchased materials 5

6 Diagnostic Results HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOOD SYSTEM BASIC NEEDS SUPPLY SYSTEMS PRODUCTION SUBSYSTEMS (Components of Basic Needs Subsystems) Direct Needs (outputs consumed directly by the household) o FOOD Crops, livestock, fish, NTFPs, purchased foods ENERGY Firewood from forests & fallows, crop residues, etc. SHELTER Timber, NTFPs, purchased MEDICINE Medicinal plants, purchased medicines CASH Short term cash crops, livestock, NTFPs, cottage industries + SAVINGS/INVESTMENT Long term savings/investments in livestock, trees, banks, farm improvements + Indirect Needs (major inputs for producing outputs that are consumed by the household) FEED FOR LIVESTOCK Grasses, forage, crop residues, feed crops RAW MATERIAL FOR COTTAGE INDUSTRY NTFPs, timber, crops, purchased materials How serious is the food security problem in Namo and Phonsay? 6

7 Months of Rice Shortage Namo Nua Mixay Phousang Pangdou Pangthong Namo Average = 4.9 months Phonsay Average = 6.4 months 7

8 A complex of interrelated problems & syndromes RICE FOR HOUSESHOLD CONSUMPTION LOW RICE PRODUCTION DRAFT ANIMALS LOW & SOIL FERTILITY WEED & PEST PROBLEMS NEED TO SELL LABOR SHORTENED FALLOWS HOUSEHOLD LABOR AVAILABILITY OF NTFPs LUP-LA ISSUES REDUCED LAND HEALTH GENDER IMBALANCE IN WORK RELOCATION & SPONTANEOUS MIGRATION PRESSURE GROWTH LOW CASH INCOME SAVINGS & INVESTMENT FUNDS LOW LIVESTOCK NUMBERS LOW PRICES LY DEVELOPED CASH CROP ALTERNATIVES DISEASE FEED QUALITY MARKETS EXTENSION RESEARCH ROADS SLOW PACE OF MARKET REFORM & INVESTMENT INVESTMENT IN NEW INCOME SOURCES AFFORDABLE CREDIT PERSISTENCE OF USURIAL AND RENT SEEKING INSTITUTIONS Household Strategies for Food Security Managing Uplands Diversity -> To have enough rice to eat every day Strategy 1 To grow own rice Grow rice in paddy Grow upland rice in swidden Strategy 2 To get money to buy rice Collect NTFPs to sell for money to buy rice Grow cash crops to sell for money to buy rice Engage in trade to get money to buy rice Sell family labor for money to buy rice Strategy 3 To substitute other staple foods Collect wild foods to eat Grow other foods to eat (e.g. root crops, makdeuay, etc) Get money to buy other foods to eat 8

9 Conclusion for Policy Makers Interrelated problems of food security, require integrated solutions. RICE FOR HOUSESHOLD CONSUMPTION LOW RICE PRODUCTION DRAFT ANIMALS LOW & SOIL FERTILITY WEED & PEST PROBLEMS NEED TO SELL LABOR SHORTENED FALLOWS HOUSEHOLD LABOR Policy Dialogue AVAILABILITY OF NTFPs LUP-LA ISSUES REDUCED LAND HEALTH GENDER IMBALANCE IN WORK RELOCATION & SPONTANEOUS MIGRATION PRESSURE GROWTH LOW CASH INCOME SAVINGS & INVESTMENT FUNDS Extension Support LOW LIVESTOCK NUMBERS INVESTMENT IN NEW INCOME SOURCES LOW PRICES LY DEVELOPED CASH CROP ALTERNATIVES DISEASE Research Support FEED QUALITY AFFORDABLE CREDIT MARKETS EXTENSION RESEARCH ROADS SLOW PACE OF MARKET REFORM & INVESTMENT PERSISTENCE OF USURIAL AND RENT SEEKING INSTITUTIONS Conclusion for Researchers, Extensionists & Planners Interrelated problems of food security, require integrated solutions. RICE FOR HOUSESHOLD CONSUMPTION LOW RICE PRODUCTION DRAFT ANIMALS LOW & SOIL FERTILITY WEED & PEST PROBLEMS SHORTENED FALLOWS Policy Research Market NEED TO SELL LABOR Research HOUSEHOLD LABOR AVAILABILITY OF NTFPs LUP-LA ISSUES REDUCED LAND HEALTH GENDER IMBALANCE IN WORK RELOCATION & SPONTANEOUS MIGRATION PRESSURE GROWTH LOW CASH INCOME SAVINGS & INVESTMENT FUNDS Extension Support LOW LIVESTOCK NUMBERS LOW PRICES Farming Systems R&E LY DEVELOPED CASH CROP ALTERNATIVES DISEASE FEED QUALITY MARKETS EXTENSION RESEARCH ROADS SLOW PACE OF MARKET REFORM & INVESTMENT INVESTMENT IN NEW INCOME SOURCES Institutional Research AFFORDABLE CREDIT PERSISTENCE OF USURIAL AND RENT SEEKING INSTITUTIONS 9

10 Future Research In-depth diagnostic research to understand the nature and severity of food security problems (valorizing agrobiodiversity) In-depth household livelihood studies to understand how households are coping with changes (adaptation mechanisms) Area-based studies at district level to understand the processes behind increased population pressure on resources (increased number of livelihood options - spontaneous migration, relocation, land use planning issues) Policy studies to understand how policy makers might better assist Policy studies to understand how policy makers might better assist the Districts to achieve national goals in rural development, poverty alleviation and sustainable use of natural resources (improved participation in policy dialogue) 10