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Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e

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Lao PDR is an elongated, landlocked country b<strong>et</strong>ween Thailand and Vi<strong>et</strong>nam, <strong>al</strong>so bordering<br />

Cambodia in <strong>the</strong> south and Myanmar and China in <strong>the</strong> north. The area is 237,000 km 2 , 3.3% of<br />

which is arable. Most is mountainous and covered in rain<strong>for</strong>est. Logging of <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>est is a<br />

major environment<strong>al</strong> problem. The Mekong River <strong>for</strong>ms a fertile v<strong>al</strong>ley through <strong>most</strong> of <strong>the</strong><br />

country, where agriculture, mainly rice farming, is carried out. Agriculture makes up h<strong>al</strong>f <strong>the</strong><br />

country’s GDP.<br />

Gener<strong>al</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />

• GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 1,540<br />

• Intern<strong>al</strong> renewable water re<strong>source</strong>s: 270 km 3<br />

• Main food consumed: rice, meat, roots and<br />

tubers, maize, pulses<br />

• <strong>Rice</strong> consumption, 1999: 171.4 kg milled<br />

rice per person per year<br />

Production constraints<br />

During <strong>the</strong> last five years, rice yield has steadily<br />

increased. A fur<strong>the</strong>r increase in yield, however,<br />

may require <strong>the</strong> development of irrigation<br />

facilities. There are sever<strong>al</strong> constraints to<br />

sustainable rice production:<br />

• Drought in rainfed areas<br />

• Soil erosion and fertility losses in upland<br />

rice cultivation<br />

• Periodic flooding because of swelling of <strong>the</strong><br />

Mekong River<br />

• Sandy soils with low fertility, especi<strong>al</strong>ly of P<br />

and K<br />

• Weeds, insects, and diseases<br />

• Inadequate infrastructure<br />

• Inadequate credit and input supply: fertilizer<br />

and o<strong>the</strong>r agrochemic<strong>al</strong>s<br />

• Sm<strong>al</strong>l farm size<br />

• Price fluctuations<br />

• Popular preference <strong>for</strong> glutinous rice<br />

Production season<br />

Planting Harvesting<br />

W<strong>et</strong> season May-Jul Nov-Dec<br />

Dry season Dec-Jan Apr-Jun<br />

182 <strong>Rice</strong> <strong>al</strong>manac

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