This publication examines, within the context of farm management, the agricultural structure and the problems concerning poverty and the environment in the rainfed agricultural areas of Laos. The first study site is the rainfed lowlands. The structure of subsistence agriculture, poverty and sustainability in the area are elucidated. The main issue in the poverty problem is food shortage, especially rice in some lowland areas. The factors that adversely affect rice yield leading to rice shortage are also identified. Moreover, in order to understand the direction of poverty alleviation, the current status and future direction of farm diversification, a risk management strategy, are examined. The second study site is the mountainous area in the north, which is particularly a poor area. The structure of slash-and-burn agriculture, the poverty problem, and the problem of sustainability in the area are examined.
Keyword(s)
agricultural structure, crop production, crop yield, diversification, environment, farm management, food security, food shortages, lowland areas, mountain areas, poverty, rice, shifting cultivation, subsistence farming, sustainability, Laos, Oryza sativa, ASEAN Countries, Indochina, South East Asia, Asia, Least Developed Countries, Developing Countries, Oryza, Poaceae, Cyperales, monocotyledons, angiosperms, Spermatophyta, plants, eukaryotes, bush fallowing, Lao People's Democratic Republic, paddy, poverty alleviation, slash and burn, swidden agriculture, Agricultural Economics (EE110), Natural Resource Economics (EE115) (New March 2000), Food Economics (EE116) (New March 2000), Structure, Ownership and Tenure (EE165), Rural Industry and Enterprises (EE350), Income and Poverty (EE950), Field Crops (FF005) (New March 2000), Plant Production (FF100), Plant Cropping Systems (FF150)
