Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 5
The Adoption of Smallholder Rubber
Production by Shifting Cultivators in Northern
Laos: A Village Case Study
Vongpaphane Manivong
1
and R.A. Cramb
2
*
Abstract
Rubber smallholdings are being established by shifting cultivators in
Northern Laos, in response to demand from China and encouraged by government
land-use policy. This can be seen as part of a general transition from subsistence
to commercial agriculture in the uplands - in particular, from shifting cultivation
to tree crop production. This study examines the economics of smallholder rubber
production in an established rubber-growing village in Luangnamtha Province.
Data were obtained from key informant interviews, group interviews, direct obser-
vation, and a farm-household survey. The study shows that, given current market
conditions and credit support, investment in smallholder rubber production in the
uplands of Northern Laos can be economically rewarding. Hence rubber can be
considered one of the potential alternatives for poor upland farmers, in line with
the government policy of stabilising shifting cultivation and supporting new liveli-
hood options for poverty reduction. However, there are risks associated with rubber
production and emerging constraints of land and labour, hence government should
move cautiously in promoting rubber where farmers are uncertain about reducing
their dependence on shifting cultivation or where forests are under threat. The rec-
ommended role for government is to ensure provision of support services for rub-
ber development, including adaptive research, technical support, extension, credit,
road access, and marketing. In particular, maintaining secure access to the China
market will be crucial. If carefully managed, the expansion of smallholder rubber
in Northern Laos has the potential to contribute to sustainable rural livelihoods.
Keywords
Agricultural transition, China market, farm economics, land allocation,
upland livelihoods, tree crops
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