Subsistence-oriented rice farming in the rainfed lowlands of central and southern Laos—a policy dilemma

Despite rapid economic, social and political change in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) in recent decades, the cultivation of glutinous rice for subsistence remains the basis for rural livelihoods in the rainfed lowlands. Even with increased output from the partial adoption of green revolution technologies, lowland rice production in central and southern Laos remains an economically marginal activity, providing limited economic incentive for farmers to intensify production beyond household consumption needs, particularly as the opportunities for employment in non-farm activities increase.