Impact of Urban Development and Market Access on Farming Systems Evolution in Xieng Khouang Province, Lao PDR

In mountainous areas of Southeast Asia, lowland paddy rice is often assumed to be the cornerstone of farming systems. Households production strategies are usually analysed by assessing access to two factors: lowland paddy and the rice self-sufficiency level of the household. Rainfed rice, pig raising and off-farm activities are associated with households that are deficient in paddy rice, whereas cash crops and the raising of large ruminants are described as a diversification process run by families who have already met their paddy rice needs (Castella et al, 2002). A survey of 73 households conducted in three districts of Xieng Khouang province revealed that traditional agriculture is being slightly modified by the emergence of new economic opportunities such as (i) increasing local and regional urban consumption demand, and (ii) better road access to markets. The survey divided households into ten different types according to their food security strategies. For paddy rice and marketable products, the labour and surface area allocated and the generated income by each type of product were all analysed. The labour and surface area allocated for both rice and market products, and the income generated by eac