Proceedings of the Asia regional workshop on the

Introduction
LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
- 101 -
by Somsak Kethongsa
Lao PDR is located in <strong>the</strong> South East <strong>Asia</strong>n Region, sharing its border with five countries:
China to <strong>the</strong> north, Cambodia to <strong>the</strong> south, Viet Nam to <strong>the</strong> west and Myanmar and Thailand to <strong>the</strong>
east has <strong>the</strong> total population <strong>of</strong> 5.5 million and <strong>the</strong> population density <strong>of</strong> 18 persons/km.
Agriculture is <strong>the</strong> most important sector in Lao PDR, accounting for about 56 percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
GDP and employing approximately 80 percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> labor force. Crop production is largely
dominated by paddy rice, which represents approximately 90 percent <strong>of</strong> crop production and
80 percent (650 000 ha) <strong>of</strong> annual cultivated cropland. O<strong>the</strong>r important crops include maize, job-tear,
c<strong>of</strong>fee, beans, vegetables and fruit-trees.
In <strong>the</strong> past few years and especially since 1996, agricultural production increased as
a consequence <strong>of</strong> more coherent agriculture development policies and strategies and more
harmonized and focused investment efforts in <strong>the</strong> agricultural sector. In 2000 rice cultivated area
was total 718 000 ha, with <strong>the</strong> rainfed area <strong>of</strong> 475 000 ha and <strong>the</strong> irrigated area <strong>of</strong> 91 000 ha and <strong>the</strong>
upland area <strong>of</strong> 152 000 ha. Rice production totaled 2.2 million tons. The Lao government has <strong>the</strong>
policy <strong>of</strong> promoting commodity production <strong>of</strong> crops and vegetables were also promoted with
increasing vegetable-cultivated area <strong>of</strong> 104 000 ha in 2000 to 123 000 ha in 2003.
The country’s rice production in year 2000 has reached a record output <strong>of</strong> 2.2 million metric
tons. With <strong>the</strong> said record output, Lao PDR is basically self sufficient on rice. This is equivalent to
400 kg <strong>of</strong> rice per capita or increase 50 percent in production as compared to <strong>the</strong> rice production in
1986.
The increase in dry season irrigation infrastructure and better agro-technical practices such
as: increases <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> improved seeds, organic and inorganic fertilizer has contributed to a large
extent to <strong>the</strong> record rice production. Beside rice, with increased diversification <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> agricultural
systems; <strong>the</strong> production <strong>of</strong> cash crops, vegetables and fruits has also increased significantly.
The use <strong>of</strong> agricultural inputs still is being very low in Lao PDR; pesticides have not been
regarded as a prime factor in improving yields. Application <strong>of</strong> pesticides will continue to be very
low, if no increase in <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> inputs has been initiated. In general, <strong>the</strong> tropical monsoon climate <strong>of</strong>
Lao PDR is conducive to supporting a variety <strong>of</strong> pests. Pest incidence may become more acute with
<strong>the</strong> introduction and extensive cultivation <strong>of</strong> new and high yielding crop varieties.
The most important insect pests <strong>of</strong> rice are stem borers, gall midge, brown plant hopper, rice
bug, grasshoppers and o<strong>the</strong>rs. Insect pests <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r crops have not yet been systematically recorded
although several have been observed in fruits, vegetables, roots and tubers. O<strong>the</strong>r important pests
causing damage in crops are snails, craps, mice, rats. Snails and crabs can destroy part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rice
crop in wetland rice. Rats can cause severe damage on cereals.
The use <strong>of</strong> chemicals in plant protection is <strong>of</strong> relatively low importance in Lao PDR. The
country does not produce any active ingredients, nor does it formulate any pesticides locally. All
pesticides are <strong>the</strong>n imported and used mainly on dry-season irrigation rice, vegetables and
marketable high-value crops.