Food Security of Shifting Cultivation Systems: Case Studies from Luang Prabang and Oudomxay Provinces, Lao PDR

The Government of the Lao PDR’s policy is to eliminate the cultivation of upland rice by means of ‘slash-and-burn’ cultivation and to replace it with more ecologically stable systems based on sustainable land use at the village and household level. The objectives of this policy are to alleviate poverty and to introduce more sustainable management of agricultural resources. In order to achieve these objectives, the government has initiated a program of relocation to upland ‘focal areas’ from which marketing, distribution and other services can be supplied, these being essential preconditions for effective agricultural development in these regions. This diagnostic study has examined communal and household strategies for addressing food security issues, and has highlighted the main problems encountered in the pursuit of food security on the local level. The specific objective was to conduct a broadly focused participatory problem diagnosis of the study areas in two districts Phonsay and Namo, in order to understand farmers’ problems, livelihood goals and how their perspectives on food security have changed, and to investigate food security in shifting cultivation systems in Luang Prabang andOudomxay provinces. Within these two provinces Phonsay and Namo districts were selected as the research areas. The two districts are the poorest districts in the Luang Prabang and Oudomxay provinces and two of ten priority poorest districts in the whole country. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for the study. The results of this study were reviewed against the sustainable land use systems strategy formulated from the Lao PDR policy. The study highlights both the benefits and stresses on household welfare, food insecurity conditions in the study areas, and interrelated problems of insufficient rice for household consumption. Finally based on these results the authors propose recommendations and future research indications.

Study on Soil Nutrient Fertility of Cultivated Land in Laos

[Objectives] This study was conducted to explore the differences in soil nutrient contents of cultivated land in different regions of Laos,and to provide a basis for soil nutrient management and scientific fertilization in Laos. [Methods] By collecting 166 samples of the 0-20 cm cultivated soil layer from farmland in the farming areas of Luang Namtha Province in the northern part of Laos and Vientiane Province in the middle of the country,the contents of soil organic matter,total nitrogen,available phosphorus,available potassium,available calcium and available magnesium were analyzed,so as to evaluate the current status of soil nutrient fertility and explore the differences in soil nutrient contents of regional cultivated land. [Results] The soil organic matter was relatively abundant,the total nitrogen and available potassium contents were at the lower-middle level,and the available phosphorus,available calcium and available magnesium were insufficient or extremely insufficient. The soil nutrient contents of cultivated land were different in different regions. [Conclusions] It is suggested that lime or other alkaline fertilizers should be applied on the farmland with acid soil,and nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium fertilizers should be added at the same time to improve soil nutrient fertility.

老挝玉米自交系配合力分析及杂种优势群划分

【目的】引进老挝玉米自交系并评价其利用价值,为我国玉米种质扩增及面向东盟国家玉米种业的种质创新和新品种选育提供理论依据。【方法】采用NCII遗传交配设计,以5份本地骨干系为测验种与15份老挝玉米自交系配制成75个测交组合,调查其在广西南宁种植的株高、穗位高、穗长、穗粗、穗行数、行粒数、秃尖长和产量等8个主要农艺性状,分析其配合力和杂种优势,并依据产量的特殊配合力(SCA)划分杂种优势群。【结果】15份老挝玉米自交系中有5份的产量一般配合力(GCA)效应值为正值,其中L08具有最高的GCA和SCA,产量高于桂单162(对照,CK)27.87%;SCA较高的组合有L04×X868、L05×X868、L13×X868、L02×X868、L10×X868和L15×X868,产量对照优势分别为10.78%、5.88%、4.76%、4.20%、4.06%和0.84%。依据75个测交组合产量的SCA,可将15份老挝玉米自交系和5份本地骨干系划分为温热种质群和热带种质群,其中热带种质群划分为2个亚群,第一亚群包括L02和GRL737,第二亚群包括L03、L04、L05、L06、L07、L08、L10、12、L13、L15、L17、L18、L21、L22、GRL173、GRL315和GRL21191。【结论】15份老挝玉米自交系与5份本地骨干系配制测交种的杂种优势总体上不明显,但其中自交系L08的产量GCA效应值最大,且与本地骨干系测交均具有较强的杂种优势,尤其与X868配制组合的产量最高,在我国玉米种质创新中具有较大的育种潜力;15份老挝玉米自交系和5份本地骨干系可划分为温热种质群和热带种质群。

Indigenous Knowledge on Soil Classification of Ethnic Groups in Luang Prabang Province of the Lao PDR

The objectives of this study were to demonstrate ethno-scientific elicitation techniques in retrieving indigenous knowledge at village-level, and to document the indigenous soil classification systems of different ethnic groups in Luang Prabang province in the Lao PDR. The study area comprised three villages – Nambo, Huaymaha and Thapo, in the Phonxay district of Luang Prabang province. Three ethnic groups were covered by the study – Hmong, Khmu and Lao Loum. All three ethnic groups used soil color as main criteria for soil classification. However, even within the same ethnic group, sometimes different villages have differences in the way they classify soils; this was apparent for the Hmong ethnic group in the villages of Huaymaha and Nambo. A significant difference of the Lao Loum ethnic group from the other two, was the emphasis used in classifying soil types according to their water holding capabilities. In contrast, the Khmu and Hmong classified many soil types in relation to their rock content (‘with rock’ or ‘pure rock’ sometimesbeing used). The results of the study suggest that the ethnic groups classify the soils in relation to their potential for different types of agricultural production.

Farmers’knowledge,attitudes,and practices with respect to rodent management in the upland and lowland farming systems of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Rodents are a serious constraint to poor farmers in the upland and lowland farming systems of the Lao People’sDemocratic Republic and have been described as the pest they have least control over. To better understand theseproblems a baseline survey of farmers was conducted to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices with respectto rodent management. A structured survey was conducted in 12 villages across Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang,and Houaphan provinces. Twenty farmers from each village were interviewed (a total of 240 farmers). Farmersnoted that the main factor limiting production was pests (70%), with rats identified as the most important pest(98%). The mean yield loss was estimated at 19% (range 0–100%). Trapping and rodenticides were commonlyused by farmers. Farmers believed that it was important to control rats and believed that rats could only be controlledif farmers worked together. However, 65% of farmers conducted rodent control by themselves, and 92% offarmers believed that rodenticides were harmful to the environment. The main constraints identified were the highcost of some control methods and the need to get farmers to work together as a community.