Lao PDR

Achievements

Key indicators and performance for 2009-2010

Indicator: A range of direct-seeding options for rice by Lao farmers evaluated, and simple methods for seeding developed for irrigated conditions

Performance: A project has evaluated direct-seeding options for rice. Among the simple options put forward, broadcasting is preferred by farmers because of labour saving where weeds are not a problem; where weeds are an issue, row planting to facilitate weeding is a better choice.

Indicator: Improved timber processing, drying and manufacturing procedures, backed up by detailed quality-control manuals, adopted by industry cluster of Lao timber processing and furniture manufacturing companies

Performance: Detailed plans for the improvement of operations of the participating processing and furniture manufacturing companies have been provided to members of the industry cluster. These manuals are specifically tailored for each of the companies. The project partners (Melbourne University and National University of Laos) are now assisting with implementation of the improvements.

Indicator: Prevalence, distribution and socioeconomic impacts of pig-associated zoonoses established for Laos, and appropriate and sustainable village-level disease control strategies identified

Performance: The prevalence and distribution studies have been completed, impact studies are being implemented and options for control strategies have been identified.

Indicator: Constraints and opportunities for climate adaptation assessed at the farm level, and efficacy of agrometeorological and extension services in the context of climate change adaptation assessed

Performance: Constraints and opportunities to climate adaptation at the farm level have been assessed including the country-specific aspects to climate change adaptation.

Indicator: Thai collaboration achieved on rice technologies and in management of riverine fisheries benefiting Laos–ACIAR projects

Performance: Thai researchers have been actively engaged in all aspects of a project that has led to development of guidelines for fish passage facilities at low-head weirs controlling water flow on flood plains.

Achievements from the 2009-10 Annual Report

The Lao Agricultural Research Fund (LARF), funded by the Australian Government through ACIAR and AusAID, has given Lao scientists access to research funds for smaller development programs consistent with the national agricultural research and development guidelines for the country. During the period October 2009 to February 2010 they had opportunities to develop and submit for funding consideration research proposals of 1–3 years’ duration, with a project budget limit of US$12,000. Proposed areas of research included crop production, livestock production, fisheries research, forestry systems research, natural resource management, integrated agricultural systems research, and economic and socioeconomic studies relating to agricultural production. Research funding agencies from Switzerland and Sweden have adopted the LARF model and are introducing their own programs of research support.

In the field of animal health, work is underway to improve the management of zoonotic diseases (diseases spread from animal to human) associated with pig production and pork consumption in Laos. Meat and slaughterhouse surveys were undertaken and local staff were trained during the process to take over the task from project staff. The survey identified a number of parasitic worms, some of which can cause serious human disease.

Much of ACIAR’s research effort is directed towards increasing smallholder farmer income. A project in Laos seeks to do this through increased cattle productivity, and increasing adoption of forage fodder banks to improve feed quality and availability while reducing the time associated with feeding cattle. The adoption of forages for feeding to cattle has exceeded expectations. The average time saving is 2 hours/day and can be up to 8 hours/day. This has potentially profound social and community impacts since fathers and children undertake cattle feeding. This time saving presents opportunity for farmers to increase their off-farm income and for school children to increase their study time instead of feeding cattle.

As in neighbouring countries, ACIAR is endeavouring to improve the productivity and profitability of Laos’s dominant lowland rice-based cropping system, and to pursue diversification in suitable locations by adding non-rice crops under irrigation in the dry season. The project has encouraged farmers to participate in varietal selection of rice, teaching them to look for differences in eating quality as well as cropping performance. Farmers were also involved in testing options for experiments and demonstrations in direct seeding of rice. While broadcasting is the farmers’ preferred option due to the reduced labour requirement for crop establishment, this may not be suitable where weeds are likely to be a major problem and labour is limited. The team successfully conducted on-farm demonstrations of drum seeders in three districts. The fields planted with the drum seeder looked very uniform and farmers using the drum seeder are confident of its benefit. Other studies are encouraging the use of legume crops, evaluating performance under different fertiliser and tillage regimes.

Fish is the main source of animal protein in Laos. The Lao PDR Government is trying to increase fish production so that the people receive about 23 kg of fish per head per year. An ACIAR project is helping to optimise yields from seasonal water bodies such as floodplain depressions and reservoirs for culture-based fisheries, a practice that requires little or no capital inputs and harnesses the natural productivity of these water bodies for augmenting fish production. The project is improving the culture of many of the fish species favoured by farming communities, developing best practice approaches and production models to improve yields and lift economic benefits to village communities. Culture-based fisheries at the project site are yielding excellent results and creating a great deal of local interest, triggering communities from two other provinces to adopt similar activities of their own.

Recent work by the Mekong River Commission has demonstrated that valuable commercial and subsistence fishery stocks undertake migrations that are significant for their survival, growth and reproduction. In-stream barriers such as weirs hinder the movement of migratory species and therefore threaten the future of these vital fisheries. In other areas of the world fish passage facilities are incorporated into the design of weirs, based around movement patterns of selected fish species. Very little is known about the movement of these local species, and a project is in place to learn more so that criteria for fish passage for lower Mekong species can be established. The project team is constructing an experimental fishway and training local communities to become involved in fish passage research.