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Overview of Challenges, Opportunities and Experiences in Uplands Development

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Page 1 of 4 LSUAFRP Lao-Swedish Agriculture and Forestry Research Programme POVERTY REDUCTION AND SHIFTING CULTIVATION STABILISATION IN THE UPLANDS OF LAO PDR: TECHNOLOGIES, APPROACHES AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING UPLAND LIVELIHOODS Proceedings of a workshop Held in Luang Prabang January 27 - 30, 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments Foreword Workshop Summary Chapter 1: Overview of challenges, opportunities and experiences in uplands development The Role and Importance of the Agriculture and Forestry Sector in Poverty Eradication Anonth Khamhung Review of Policies and Practices in Upland Areas of the Lao PDR David E. Thomas How Do We Know an Upland Solution When We See One? John Raintree Chapter 2: Understanding the complexity of shifting cultivation stabilization Livelihoods and Forest Resources in Katu Villages in Sekong Charles Alton and Houmphanh Rattanavong Shifting Cultivation and Poverty Eradication: A Complex Issue Olivier Ducourtieux The Balanced Approach to Opium Elimination in the Lao PDR Leik Boonwaat Chapter 3: The social and ecological impacts of shifting cultivationstabilization and poverty reduction programs in the uplands Implementation of the Land Allocation Policy in the Lao PDR: Origins, Problems, Adjustments and Local Alternatives Bernard Moizo Resettlement: An Alternative for Upland Development? Laurent Romagny Page 2 of 4 Page 3 of 4 Page 4 of 4 Contact us: E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 021-770 078 Fax: 021- 770 047 Shifting Cultivation and Poverty Eradication in the Uplands of the Lao PDR i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This publication is based upon the papers presented at the NAFRI organized work- shop on “Poverty Reduction and Shifting Cultivation Stabilisation in the Uplands of Lao PDR: Technologies, approaches and methods for improving upland Livelihoods”. The workshop was held in Luang Prabang from January 27 – 30, 2004. This workshop was a truly collaborative event and much of its success was due to the efforts of a number of individuals, projects and organizations that contributed to the workshop. NAFRI would particularly like to thank the Lao-Swedish Upland Agriculture and For- estry Research Program and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) for financially supporting the workshop. The workshop was chaired by Dr. Bounthong Bouahom, Director General of NAFRI, who actively supported the planning of the workshop. A number of NAFRI staff played key roles in organizing the workshop, including: Mr. Phouthone Sophathilath, Mr. Xaypladeth Choulamany, Mr. Thongphath Leuangkhamma, Mr. Khamphay Manivong, Mr. Somphong Pradichit and Mr. Sisongkham Mahathilath, Mr. Houmchitsavath Sodarack, Mr. Bounthan Keoboualapha, Bandith Ramangkoun. The Information Management and Strategic Planning Division/NAFRI oversaw and managed the workshop planning and organization. The Northern Agriculture and Forestry Research Centre was responsible for all the excellent organizational and logistic arrangements in Luang Prabang NAFRI would also like to acknowledge the efforts of those who volunteered to facilitate the working group sessions. This included: 1. Land management/allocation issues and strategies: Thongphath Leuangkhamma (FIPD/ DOF) and Peter Jones (NAFRI/LSUAFRP) 2. Plantation Crops: Phoui Visonnavong and Olivier Ducourtieux (PDDP/Phongsaly) 3. Agro-biodiversity: Bounkong Souvimon (HRC/NAFRI) and Pernille Dyg (FAO) 4. Ethnic and gender considerations in uplands farming systems: Dr. Monthathip Chanpengsay and (NAFRI) Ingrid Baken (FAO) 5. NTFP development and issues: Sounthone Keptanh (FRC/NAFRI) and Joost Foppes (SNV) 6. Scaling up and institutional mechanisms required: Viengxay Photakoun (NAFES) and Dr. Joanne Millar (CIAT) 7. Appropriate cropping systems for the uplands: Bounthan Keoboualapha (NAFReC/ NAFRI) and Bruce Lundquist (NAFRI/IUARP) 8. Livestock Systems Development: Viengsavan Phimphachanhvongsod (LRC/NAFRI) and Peter Horne (CIAT) 9. Developing an Upland Source Book for Lao PDR: Julian Gonsalves and Phouthone Sophathilath (NAFRI) ii NAFRI Workshop Proceedings NAFRI would also like to thank Mr. Chun Lai who assisted “facilitating the working group facilitators”. The organizers would also like to thank all the projects, district staff and villagers who hosted the five field trips, including: 1. Pak Ou District, Integrated Upland Agriculture Research Project 2. Phonxai District, Lao-Swedish Upland Agriculture and Forestry Research Program 3. Ban Lak Sip and tour of Northern Agriculture and Forestry Research Centre at Houay Kot, MSEC, IWMI, SSLC, NAFReC 4. Xiengnan District, Forages and Livestock Support Program/CIAT/LRC/NAFRI 5. Tad Kuangsi Waterfall Park, Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office Luang Prabang The workshop documenters included: Dirk Van Gansberghe, Carl Mossberg, Peter Jones, John Raintree and Michael Victor Special thanks goes to the Provincial Authorities of Luang Prabang which graciously hosted the workshop and allowed the workshop to be held on the grounds of the provin- cial meeting hall. NAFRI would also like to thank all the projects and organizations which sponsored staff to attend the workshop and exhibited displays at the information market. Finally, NAFRI would like to thank all the participants who made presentations and prepared papers for this proceedings. Shifting Cultivation and Poverty Eradication in the Uplands of the Lao PDR iii FOREWORD The uplands of Laos are of key development interest for both the Government of Lao PDR and international and donor agencies. On the one hand, the uplands of Laos sustain a diverse range of ethnic groups, biodiversity and ecosystems. On the other, the highest incidence of poverty is also found in Upland areas. Recognizing the challenges for improving upland livelihoods and stabilizing agricul- tural production, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has initiated a bold range of policy and institutional reforms. Both the Decentralization Act and the Strategic Vision for the Agriculture Sector call for an area-based conservation and livelihood systems ap- proach to development with a demand-driven research and extension system that sup- ports local people’s active involvement in their own development. In response, several research and development programmes have been initiated in col- laboration with international donors and aid agencies. Each has gained valuable experi- ences and generated a number of technical options, approaches and methods. Yet, there have been few opportunities to systematically share experiences and feedback these back to policy-makers. As part of its five year anniversary celebrations, NAFRI took the opportunity to organ- ize a workshop on upland research and development in order to bring together the range of technical knowledge and experiences that have been gained both within NAFRI and in other projects and programs working in upland areas. The main purpose of the workshop was to better understand the status of technical experiences (both positive and negative) available for improving upland livelihoods and farming systems. The rationale for this was that by cataloguing the range of technical experiences, valuable policy recommendations would be raised but in the context of offering viable solutions. The objectives of the workshop were to: Review existing knowledge and share relevant information between researchers, extensionists, development practitioners and academics. Provide feedback from the field to policy makers, researchers, academics and donors to improve the implementation of policies related to shifting cultivation stabilisation and poverty eradication. The Uplands Workshop was truly a unique event. Attended by more than 300 partici- pants, the workshop was probably the largest gathering of agriculture and forestry pro- fessionals working in Laos. As many participants commented the workshop was exceptional for the open and frank discussions that took place throughout the four days. Because of this the workshop highlighted both the range of options emerging as well as some of the key bottlenecks that have emerged in implementing government policies and programmes. For NAFRI, the workshop is part of a longer-term strategy to develop an integrated and responsive research program to contribute to the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy of the Government of Lao PDR and improve the livelihoods of upland people. NAFRI focuses primarily on adaptive research in order to provide technical options, recommendations and results to support agriculture, forestry and fisheries iv NAFRI Workshop Proceedings development and strategic formulation of policies and programs in accordance with the government policy. This workshop is a good example of how we intend to do this. In general, two strong inter-related issues emerged during the workshop. The first is that uplands development is a complex issue for which there is no single solution. This calls for an integrated programmatic approach and a high degree of collaboration and coordination so as to generate a diversity of solutions. The second is that technical solu- tions cannot be developed in a vacuum and need to take into consideration social, eco- nomic and policy considerations. For NAFRI this confirms the need to continue working in an integrated farming sys- tems research and extension approach which seeks to work hand in hand with farmers to develop appropriate solutions. Moreover, this implies that NAFRI will need to continue developing its capacity to conduct multi-disciplinary research as well as create closer in- teractions
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