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The Lao People's Democratic Republic has experienced significant changes in agricultural development and commercialization over the past few decades. Approximately 80% of its population relies heavily on subsistence agriculture. These farmers have witnessed a remarkable decrease in the poverty rate, dropping from 46% to 18% between 1993 and 2019. This positive transformation can be attributed to enhanced infrastructure, enabling farmers to access markets in neighboring countries. Additionally, a considerable upswing in the livestock sector has occurred due to increased demand, particularly from China for export, and a heightened need for cash crops from the Vietnamese market.
Despite these advancements leading to higher cash income and export benefits, there are ongoing environmental considerations. The long-term sustainability and resilience of these agroecosystems are under threat due to various practices in the agricultural sector. This includes the use of agrochemicals and the reduction of fallow periods in crop rotations, leading to the loss of biodiversity and soil fertility.
The prevalent silvopastoral systems (SPS) in the country, where trees, forage, and livestock coexist on the same piece of land, have the potential for improved productivity, circularity, and reduced environmental impact. This can be accomplished by optimizing the integration of all ecosystem elements. Converting crop residues into animal feed and using manure as a fertilizer can help mitigate pasture degradation, boost soil carbon, enhance nutrient cycling, improve water retention properties, and promote biodiversity.
Recognizing these challenges, this study centered its attention on Xieng Khouang province, in the Lao uplands. The primary objective was to evaluate the potential of maintaining and expanding SPS in for smallholder crop-livestock farms in this specific region by taking a holistic approach, considering various dimensions of sustainable intensification. In conducting the research, the FarmDESIGN whole farm modeling tool was employed to initially assess the current farm performance and to subsequently generate potential scenarios for the implementation of SPS. Additionally, farmer’s receptiveness to adopting silvopastoral elements in their farms was explored through focus group discussions.
