Economics of lowland rice production in Laos: opportunities and challenges

摘要

Laos is a small South-East Asian country where most of its labour force is engaged in producing its staple crop--rice. Although rice production suffered during years of internal disturbances and subsequent political changes, new liberal market policies and other initiatives have positively affected rice production in recent years. Laos has a high population growth rate for the region and its agricultural sector remains predominantly subsistence oriented. As a result, tremendous challenges lie ahead to ensure food security for Laos and, at the same time, develop a commercially oriented agricultural sector that can provide a basis for the country's sustainable economic growth. The paper gives an overview of these challenges and offers suggestions on the nature of the technological and policy interventions needed to increase rice production.