Kim Alexander

Agricultural Change in Lao Pdr: Pragmatism in the Face of Adversity Kim Alexander

Rural development in the uplands of Lao Peoples?Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has presented manychallenges for farming communities. Governmentagricultural policy is to reduce the production ofupland rice and to provide sustainable alternativelivelihoods for upland farmers. This book hasexamines upland agricultural systems and economic andagrarian transitions occurring at individual,community, and regional levels. The effect of landand forest allocation policy and the implementationof swidden cultivation stabilisation measures bygovernmental and international organisations havebeen explored. The book contributes to the theory ofintensification of land use as low populationdensities and risk aversion are propellingdiversification rather than intensificationstrategies. Government land use policy appearsinappropriate and negatively affecting some farmers?ability to generate sustainable livelihoods now andin the future. The sustainability and longevity ofagricultural production changes occurring arecontestable. The analysis will be especially usefulto international development professionals,researchers and students and interested in policy andagricultural change