Abstract
In Northern Laos, as elsewhere in the Southeast Asian uplands, there is an agricultural transition underway from subsistence production based on shifting cultivation to commercial production based on tree crops. In response to demand from China, rubber smallholdings are being established by shifting cultivators in Northern Laos, encouraged by government land-use policy. We examine the bio-economics of smallholder rubber production in an established rubber-growing village and model the likely expansion of smallholder rubber in Northern Laos. Data were obtained from key informants, group interviews, direct observation, and a farm-household survey. Latex yields were estimated using the Bioeconomic Rubber Agroforestry Support System (BRASS). A financial model was developed to estimate the net present value for a representative rubber smallholding. This model was then combined with spatial data in a Geographical Information System (GIS) to predict the likely expansion of rubber based on resource quality and accessibility. Implications are drawn for upland development in the region.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alton C, Bluhm D, Sannanikone S (2005) Para rubber in Northern Laos: the case of Luangnamtha. Lao-German Program. Rural Development in Mountainous Areas of Northern Laos, Vientiane
Barlow C (1997) Growth, structural change and plantation tree crops: the case of rubber. World Development 25(10):1589–1607
Barlow C, Jayasurija SK (1986) Stages of development in smallholder tree crop agriculture. Dev & Change 17:635–658
Barlowe R (1986) Land resource economics: the economics of real estate. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey
Boserup E (1965) The conditions of agricultural growth: the economics of agrarian change under population pressure. Earthscan, London
Burger K, Smit HP (2004) Natural rubber planting policies and the outlook for prices and consumption. In: Jewtragoon P, Thainugul W (eds) Full texts of the International Rubber Conference 2004, vol. 1. Thai Rubber Association, Songkhla
Cacho O (2001) Bioeconomic rubber agroforestry support system (BRASS). http://www.une.edu.au/febl/Economics/carbon/software.htm. Sighted 1 April, 2005
Campbell H, Brown R (2003) Benefit-cost analysis: financial and economic appraisal using spreadsheets. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Cramb RA (1993) Shifting cultivation and sustainable agriculture in East Malaysia: a longitudinal case study. Agric Sys 42:209–226
Cramb RA (2005) Farmers’ strategies for managing acid upland soils in Southeast Asia: an evolutionary perspective. Agric Ecosys & Env 106:69–87
Cramb RA (2007) Land and longhouse: agrarian transformation in the uplands of Sarawak. NIAS Press, Copenhagen
Dove MR (1993) Smallholder rubber and swidden agriculture in Borneo: a sustainable adaptation to the ecology and economy of the tropical forest. Econ Bot 47:136–147
Ducourtieux O, Laffort JR, Sacklokham S (2005) Land policy and farming practices in Laos. Dev & Change 36(3):499–526
Fox JM (2000) How blaming ‘slash and burn’ farmers is deforesting mainland Southeast Asia. East-West Center, Honolulu
Grist P, Menz K, Thomas (1998). Modified BEAM rubber agroforestry models: RRYIELD and RRECON. ACIAR Technical Reports Series No. 42. ACIAR, Canberra
International Centre for Environment Management (ICEM) (2003) Lao PDR national report on protected areas and development. Review of protected areas and development in the lower Mekong river region, Queensland
Jumpasut P (2004) Global NR and SR development in the next decade: focus on New Asia. In: Jewtragoon P, Thainugul W (eds) Full texts of the International Rubber Conference 2004, vol. 1. Thai Rubber Association, Songkhla
Manivong V (2007) The economic potential for smallholder rubber production in Northern Laos. MPhil thesis. University of Queensland, Brisbane
Manivong V, Cramb RA (2007) The adoption of smallholder rubber production by shifting cultivators in Northrn Laos: village case study. In: Snelder DJ, Lasco RD (eds) Smallholder tree growing for rural development and environmental services: lessons from Asia, Springer
Manivong V, Phouyyavong K, Thongpadid V, Phiasakha V, Saycocie S, Bouahom B (2003) Field report on rubber and sugarcane markets in Northern Laos. Socio-Economic Research Component. Lao-Swedish Upland Agriculture and Forestry Research Programme. National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, Vientiane
Mercer DE (2004) Adoption of agroforestry innovations in the tropics: a review. In: Nair PKR, Rao MR, Buck LE (eds) New vistas in agroforestry. Kluwer, Dordrecht
Myint H (1973) The economics of the developing countries, 4th edn. Hutchinson, London
National Statistic Centre NSC) (2005) Statistics of the Lao PDR 1975–2005. Committee for Planning and Investment, Vientiane
National Statistic Centre (NSC) (2005) Preliminary report of population and housing census year 2005. Committee for Planning and Investment, Vientiane
Perkins F (1994) Practical cost benefit analysis: basic concepts and applications. Macmillan Education Australia, Melbourne
Raintree JB, Warner K (1986) Agroforestry pathways for the intensification of shifting cultivation. Agrofor Sys 4:39–54
Roder W (2001) Slash-and-burn rice system in the hills of northern Lao PDR: description, challenges. and opportunities. International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos
Thongmanivong S, Fujita Y (2006) Recent land use and livelihood transitions in Northern Laos. Mountain Res Dev 26(3):237–244
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (2003) Human development report 2003, New York
Wadley R, Mertz O (2005) Pepper in a time of crisis: smallholder buffering strategies in Sarawak, Malaysia, and West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Agric Sys 85:289–305
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) of Laos for giving us the opportunity to carry out this study, the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) for providing the financial support, the Soil Survey and Land Classification Centre (SSLCC) and the GIS Unit of NAFRI for providing the data on soil characteristics and roads in Luangnamtha Province. Special thanks to Mr. Thavone Inthavong from NAFRI for producing maps. Thanks also to the staff of the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO) and Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Extension Services (PAFES) of Luangnamtha for providing valuable information. Particular thanks go to Mr. Bounthon Sisavan, a research assistant, for his wonderful cooperation and support during the data collection in Luangnamtha Province. Finally, we would like to give thanks to the authorities and farmers of Hadyao village who shared their time for the interviews and group discussions.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Manivong, V., Cramb, R.A. Economics of smallholder rubber expansion in Northern Laos. Agroforest Syst 74, 113–125 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-008-9136-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-008-9136-3