Opportunities and constraints for adoption of maize-legume mixed cropping systems in Laos

Lienhard, Pascal; Lestrelin, Guillaume; Phanthanivong, Ianlang; Kiewvongphachan, Xaisavanh; Leudphanane, Bounma; Lairez, Juliette; Quoc, Hoá Tran; Castella, Jean‐Christophe

doi:10.1080/14735903.2020.1792680

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…are needed as green manures for soil improvement, or to provide fodder [78]. Alternatively, mixed-cropping systems of maize and legumes have been successful in Northern Laos [100].…”

Section: Maintaining Organic Matter Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing Sands of the Lower Mekong Basin to Limit Land Degradation: A Review of Properties and Limitations for Crop and Forage Production

Bell

Seng²,

Vance

et al. 2022

Soil Systems

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Land development is rapidly occurring on sand-dominant soils that cover substantial areas of the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB). Sands are at risk of degradation on sloping uplands where agriculture is expanding and on lowland landscapes where intensification of cropping is occurring. Sandstone and granitic geology explain the prevalence of sand-dominant textures of profiles in the LMB. However, the sand terrains in uplands of Cambodia and Southern Laos mostly have not been mapped in detail and the diversity of their edaphic properties is poorly understood. On high-permeability sands, lowland rainfed rice crops are drought-prone, while nutrient losses from leaching are also a risk. Furthermore, waterlogging, inundation and subsoil hardpans are significant hazards that influence the choice of crops and forages for lowland soils. Soil acidity, low nutrient status, hard-setting and shallow rooting depth are significant constraints for crops and forages on sands in the lowlands. Land use change in the lowlands to alternative field crops and forages on sands is contingent on their profitability relative to rice, the amounts and reliability of early wet season rainfall, and the amounts of stored water available after harvesting rice. Low soil fertility and soil acidity are limitations to the productivity of farming systems on the sand profiles in uplands, while erosion, low soil organic matter levels and water balance are concerns for their sustainable use. Site-/soil-specific fertilizer and lime management, land suitability assessment and the use of conservation agriculture principles (minimum tillage and crop residue retention) can overcome some of these constraints.

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“…are needed as green manures for soil improvement, or to provide fodder [78]. Alternatively, mixed-cropping systems of maize and legumes have been successful in Northern Laos [100].…”

Section: Maintaining Organic Matter Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing Sands of the Lower Mekong Basin to Limit Land Degradation: A Review of Properties and Limitations for Crop and Forage Production

Bell

Seng²,

Vance

et al. 2022

Soil Systems

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“…Some key successes of these projects were pointed out by the successive impact evaluations [21,24,36,40] in terms of the (i) reduction in soil erosion permitted by the no-till system while maintaining the economic profitability, (ii) number of farmers who adopted CA practices, and (iii) interest of the MAF to promote CA techniques throughout the country. Agroecology scaling policy translated into a dedicated CA research center created in 2009 and a call for agroecology to be included in the curricula of agricultural university and vocational schools.…”

Section: Analytical Framework For Comparative Analysis Of Aeismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Navigating through the successive AeISs, it became clear that actionable knowledge at the core of AeIS is not limited to design and nurture alternative practices in an innovation niche such as experiments conducted by dedicated projects. It also creates an enabling environment for the agroecology practices to their way beyond their initial niche to become mainstream within the prevalent sociotechnical regime [21,[52][53][54]. Indeed, combining push and pull levers of change is essential for agroecology to become the norm, fully supported at political, cultural, or institutional levels, instead of being a challenge to the system in place.…”

Section: Actionable Knowledge In Agroecology Organizationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These scaling questions further lead to the issue of knowledge integration beyond fields and farms to consider the overall context of innovation, e.g., political economy, governance, and infrastructures. For instance, constraints to the adoption of conservation agriculture by smallholder farmers are often found beyond the field or farm scales in, e.g., project governance and market structure [20,21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Role of Actor Networks in Enabling Agroecological Innovation: Lessons from Laos

Castella¹,

Lestrelin

Phimmasone

et al. 2022

Sustainability

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In this paper, we use conceptual insights from the actor–network theory (ANT) to explore the role of agroecological innovation systems (AeISs) in the reconfiguration of agricultural practices toward sustainability. AeISs are actor networks involving a diversity of individuals (e.g., farmers, traders, experts) and organizations (e.g., cooperatives, rural development agencies, teaching and research institutions) that mainstream agroecology principles and practices to enhance agroecosystems’ resilience. Their composition and structure affect the way different agents of change interact, as well as how they access, exchange, and use knowledge as they drive the adoption of specific technologies. We document seven AeISs that were active between 2005 and 2020 in the northern uplands of Laos. Within the framework of these initiatives, action research was conducted for understanding the processes underpinning diverse technical, organizational, and institutional innovations to foster an agroecological transition. Building on a comparative analysis of AeIS, we consider how agency was distributed among collectives as they reorganized in time. Our discussion highlights the importance of configuring, enlarging, and nurturing spaces in which actors are empowered to adjust and adapt, as well as to think and act collectively in complexity. Lastly, what counts in the innovation is the underlying networking process itself, i.e., the process through which all actors of the AeIS interact and exchange. Changes in the networking processes come with a changing conception of knowledge. Moving from knowledge to knowing (i.e., knowledge in the making), AeISs no longer only promote products or technologies, but also collective intelligence based on an ethic of care.

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“…Laos produces more corn than it uses and exports surplus corn to neighbouring countries China, Thailand and Vietnam. The maize value chain for export in Laos consists of two closely related participants: farmers and traders [15]. Corn cultivation has had positive effects on income generation and poverty alleviation in rural households [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Financial Impact of Maize Export to China for Farmers in Xiengkhuang, Laos

Patthavong,

2023

SAJSSE

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Aims: Corn has become an important cash crop in Laos, mainly grown in the northern mountainous areas and used for various industrial products as well as food. The corn value chain plays a key role in employment and poverty alleviation in the country's rural areas. Study Design: This study is based on both quantitative research method, with one study enabling in-depth interviews with key informants and conducted in Xiegkhouang province. Targeted spot checks were used to select districts based on maize cultivation. Random sampling was conducted to obtain household surveys that have benefited from exporting corn to China, and each group received 12 respondents from two districts, for a total of 120. Methodology: This study uses both primary and secondary data. Primary data are obtained from the field in a number of ways, namely (i) by direct observation; (ii) in-depth interviews with key informants; and (iii) focus group discussion with local stakeholders.Descriptive statistical package and gross margin analyzes were used to determine the profitability levels of corn farmers and corn traders in the study area. Results: The assessment results showed that corn exports to China had a positive and significant effect on farmers' incomes in Xiegkhouang Province. The average increase in the net income of the farmers surveyed was significant. The study also found that corn exports to China had a positive impact on provincial employment opportunities and additional job opportunities. Conclusion: The study found that while exports to China increased farmers' income, they also increased input and labor costs, and therefore the macroeconomic impact was not as positive as initially expected to help farmers increase their income and benefit from corn exports.

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Opportunities and constraints for adoption of maize-legume mixed cropping systems in Laos

Cited by 11 publications

References 30 publications

Managing Sands of the Lower Mekong Basin to Limit Land Degradation: A Review of Properties and Limitations for Crop and Forage Production

Managing Sands of the Lower Mekong Basin to Limit Land Degradation: A Review of Properties and Limitations for Crop and Forage Production

The Role of Actor Networks in Enabling Agroecological Innovation: Lessons from Laos

The Financial Impact of Maize Export to China for Farmers in Xiengkhuang, Laos

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