Social Perspectives on Food Security in the Uplands of Northern Laos John B. Raintree Socioeconomics Unit LSUAFRP, NAFRI

Social Perspectives on Social Perspectives on Food Security in the UplandsFood Security in the Uplands

of Northern Laosof Northern Laos

John B. Raintree Socioeconomics Unit LSUAFRP, NAFRI

• Poverty Alleviation

• Livelihood Improvement

• Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

• Farming Systems Research/Extension

NAFRI-LSUAFRP Research focuses on:

NAFRI-LSUAFRP Map Gallery Project Area North

PHONSAY Ethnic Groups Households

Source of Population

IncreaseDistinctive Characteristics

Huayman Khmu, Hmong

51 Relocation Longest period of rice shortage, least farmland, most forest plantation land, most socially stratified (10 landless families & 1 landlord)

Nambo Hmong, Khmu, Lao Loum

55 Spontaneousmigration

Most padi land/capita, greatest variety of cash crops, most innovative farmers, 10 Day Market

Thapho Lao Loum 118 Relocation Largest village, 2nd most padi land/capita,

Huaymaha Khmu, Hmong

92 Relocation Most hai/capita, largest relocated population, land disputes

NAMO

Namo Nua Tai Dam 82 Pop. growth Most livestock/capita, 2nd 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, Hmong

31 Relocation Longest period of rice shortage

Pangthong Hmong 49 Relocation Most padi land/capita, most innovative farmers

What you see depends on how you look

Methods used in LSUARFP:

• Interdisciplinary social science methods based on concepts of Human Ecology

• Interdisciplinary diagnostic Analysis of Household & Village Livelihood Systems

HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOOD SYSTEM


BASIC NEEDSSUPPLY SYSTEMS

PRODUCTION SUBSYSTEMS(Components of Basic Needs Subsystems)




Direct Needs (outputs consumed directly by the household)

FOOD

ENERGY

SHELTER

MEDICINE

CASH

SAVINGS/INVESTMENT

Indirect Needs (major inputs for producing outputs that are consumed by the household)

FEED FOR LIVESTOCK

RAW MATERIAL FOR COTTAGE INDUSTRY





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 +


FEED FOR LIVESTOCK Grasses, forage, crop residues, feed crops


NTFPs, timber, crops, purchased materials

Diagnostic ResultsHOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOOD SYSTEM














How serious is the food security problem in Namo and Phonsay?

Months of Rice Shortage

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Namo Nua Mixay Phousang Pangdou Pangthong

Namo Average = 4.9 months

Months of Rice Shortage

0

2

4

6

8

10

Huayman Nambo Thapho Huaymaha

Phonsay Average = 6.4 months

Household Strategies for Food SecurityHousehold Strategies for Food Security

HH Objective: To have enough rice to eat every dayHH Objective: To have enough rice to eat every day

Strategy 1 – To grow own riceStrategy 1 – To grow own rice• Grow rice in padiGrow rice in padi• Grow rice in haiGrow rice in hai

Strategy 2 – To get money to buy riceStrategy 2 – To get money to buy rice• Collect NTFPs to sell for money to buy riceCollect NTFPs to sell for money to buy rice• Grow cash crops to sell for money to buy riceGrow cash crops to sell for money to buy rice• Engage in trade to get money to buy riceEngage in trade to get money to buy rice• Sell family labor for money to buy riceSell family labor for money to buy rice

Strategy 3 – To substitute other staple foodsStrategy 3 – To substitute other staple foods• Collect wild foods to eatCollect wild foods to eat• Grow other foods to eat (e.g. root crops, makdeuay, etc)Grow other foods to eat (e.g. root crops, makdeuay, etc)• Get money to buy other foods to eatGet money to buy other foods to eat





























INSUFFICIENT RICE FOR

HOUSESHOLDCONSUMPTION

Basic Problem

LOW RICE PRODUCTION



Production related problems & causes

LOW RICE PRODUCTION



REDUCED ACCESS TO

LAND

Land problems

LOW RICE PRODUCTION



REDUCED ACCESS TO

LAND

RELOCATION& SPONTANEOUS

MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE

POPULATION GROWTH

Population pressure -- a major driving force

LOW RICE PRODUCTION



REDUCED ACCESS TO

LAND


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE

POPULATION GROWTH

LUP-LA ISSUES

Administrative complications

LOW RICE PRODUCTION

LOW & DECLINING SOIL

FERTILITY



INCREASED WEED & PEST

PROBLEMS

REDUCED ACCESS TO

LAND


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE

POPULATION GROWTH

LUP-LA ISSUES

SHORTENED FALLOWS

Agroecological problems

LOW RICE PRODUCTION


FERTILITY



INSUFFICIENT HOUSEHOLD

LABORINCREASED

WEED & PEST PROBLEMS

NEED TOSELL LABOR

LACK OF DRAFT ANIMALS

REDUCED ACCESS TO

LAND


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE

SHORTENED FALLOWS

POPULATION GROWTH

LUP-LA ISSUES

GENDER IMBALANCE IN

WORK

Labor problems



LOW CASH INCOME

Cash related problems & causes



DECLINING AVAILABILITY

OF NTFPs

LOW CASH INCOME

POORLY DEVELOPED CASH CROP

ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICES

Cash related problems & causes




OF NTFPs


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE

LOW CASH INCOME


ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICES

POPULATION GROWTH

Population pressure on natural resources




OF NTFPs


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE

LOW CASH INCOME

POOR ACCESS TO MARKETS


ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICESLACK OF ROADS

POPULATION GROWTH

Market related problems




OF NTFPs


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE

LOW CASH INCOME


LOW LIVESTOCK NUMBERS


ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICES

DISEASE

POOR FEED QUALITY

POPULATION GROWTH

Livestock problems

LACK OF ROADS




OF NTFPs


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE

INSUFFICIENT SAVINGS &

INVESTMENTFUNDS

LOW CASH INCOME




ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICES

DISEASE

POOR FEED QUALITY

POPULATION GROWTH

Savings-investment problems

LACK OF ROADS




OF NTFPs


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE


INVESTMENTFUNDS

LOW CASH INCOME




ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICES

DISEASE

LACK OF INVESTMENT IN NEW INCOME

SOURCES

POOR FEED QUALITY

POPULATION GROWTH

Savings-investment problems

LACK OF ROADS




OF NTFPs


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE


INVESTMENTFUNDS

LOW CASH INCOME




ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICES

DISEASE


SOURCES

POOR FEED QUALITY LACK OF

EXTENSION SUPPORT

POPULATION GROWTH

Extension support gap

LACK OF ROADS




OF NTFPs


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE


INVESTMENTFUNDS

LOW CASH INCOME




ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICES

DISEASE


SOURCES

POOR FEED QUALITY

LACK OF RESEARCH SUPPORT

LACK OF EXTENSION

SUPPORT

POPULATION GROWTH

Research support gap

LACK OF ROADS




OF NTFPs


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE


INVESTMENTFUNDS

LOW CASH INCOME




ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICES

DISEASE


SOURCES

LACK OF AFFORDABLE

CREDIT

POOR FEED QUALITY


LACK OF EXTENSION

SUPPORT

POPULATION GROWTH

Institutional problems

LACK OF ROADS




OF NTFPs


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE


INVESTMENTFUNDS

LOW CASH INCOME




ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICES

DISEASE


SOURCES

PERSISTENCEOF USURIAL AND

RENT SEEKING INSTITUTIONS

LACK OF AFFORDABLE

CREDIT

POOR FEED QUALITY


LACK OF EXTENSION

SUPPORT

POPULATION GROWTH


LACK OF ROADS




OF NTFPs


MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE


INVESTMENTFUNDS

LOW CASH INCOME




ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICES

DISEASE


SOURCES

SLOW PACE OF MARKET REFORM &

INVESTMENT



LACK OF AFFORDABLE

CREDIT

POOR FEED QUALITY


LACK OF EXTENSION

SUPPORT

POPULATION GROWTH


LACK OF ROADS

LOW RICE PRODUCTION

POOR HEALTH

SHORTENED FALLOWS

REDUCED ACCESS TO

LAND


FERTILITY




OF NTFPs


LABORINCREASED



MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE


INVESTMENTFUNDS

LOW CASH INCOME

GENDER IMBALANCE IN

WORK




ALTERNATIVES

LOW PRICES

DISEASE


SOURCES

NEED TOSELL LABOR


INVESTMENT



LACK OF AFFORDABLE

CREDIT

POOR FEED QUALITY


LACK OF EXTENSION

SUPPORT


POPULATION GROWTH

LUP-LA ISSUES

A complex of interrelated problems & syndromes

LACK OF ROADS

LOW RICE PRODUCTION

POOR HEALTH

SHORTENED FALLOWS

REDUCED ACCESS TO

LAND


FERTILITY




OF NTFPs


LABORINCREASED



MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE


INVESTMENTFUNDS

LOW CASH INCOME

GENDER IMBALANCE IN

WORK




ALTERNATIVES

LACK OF ROADS

LOW PRICES

DISEASE


SOURCES

NEED TOSELL LABOR


INVESTMENT



LACK OF AFFORDABLE

CREDIT

POOR FEED QUALITY


LACK OF EXTENSION

SUPPORT


POPULATION GROWTH

LUP-LA ISSUESConclusion for Donors and

Policy Makers

Interrelated problems of food security, require integrated solutions.

Policy Dialogue

Research Support

Extension Support

LOW RICE PRODUCTION

POOR HEALTH

SHORTENED FALLOWS

REDUCED ACCESS TO

LAND


FERTILITY




OF NTFPs


LABORINCREASED



MIGRATION

INCREASEDPOPULATION

PRESSURE


INVESTMENTFUNDS

LOW CASH INCOME

GENDER IMBALANCE IN

WORK




ALTERNATIVES

LACK OF ROADS

LOW PRICES

DISEASE


SOURCES

NEED TOSELL LABOR


INVESTMENT



LACK OF AFFORDABLE

CREDIT

POOR FEED QUALITY


LACK OF EXTENSION

SUPPORT


POPULATION GROWTH

LUP-LA ISSUES

Extension Support

Policy Research

Market Research

Institutional Research

Farming Systems R&E

Conclusion for Researchers, Extensionists

& Planners

Interrelated problems of food security, require integrated solutions.

SOCIOECONOMICS

System Subsystem Problems/causes Research Activity

Capital Village Finance

Lack of finance (capital) for investment in livestock, forestry, cropping

Review of experience inLPDR (SE)

Labor Labor saving Tools

Lack of labor & low productivity of existing production systems (especially for women)

Land use planningLand use planning

Insufficient land for production & livelihoods Land use planning study(LM, SE)

Land disputes and problems in merging old and newly relocated villages

Marketing Marketing

Insufficient market access for export of goods Marketing research (SE)

Lack of confidence in markets

Low and unstable prices of products

Poorly developed distribution system (lack of choice of middlemen)

Current research on social aspects of food insecurity and other livelihood problems

Future Research Indications

• Continuation of existing research-and-development lines

• In-depth diagnostic research to understand the nature and severity of food security problems (purposive sampling)

• In-depth household livelihood studies to understand how households are coping with food insecurity (nutritional adaptations?) and other problems (wealth-stratified sampling)

• Area-based studies at district level to understand the processes behind increased population pressure on resources (spontaneous migration, relocation, land use planning issues)

• 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

Documents

Social Perspectives on Food Security in the Uplands of Northern Laos John B. Raintree Socioeconomics Unit LSUAFRP, NAFRI