Synthesis of Developing Improved Farming and Marketing Systems in Rainfed Regions of Southern Lao PDR

After 4 years, the Southern Laos Project is soundly placed to bring to bring its research and key findings to fruition by 30 June 2014, both in the scientific literature and via delivery in focal villages and associated knowledge sharing. This is supported by substantial technical reporting, which is being translated into conference and journal papers, including this special issue of the Lao Journal of Agriculture and Forestry in Jan-Jun 2014, and the book chapters for the ACIAR Rice-based Systems Research Workshop in Phnom Penh in May 2014. The focal villages are hubs for integration and delivery, including demonstration and training of technologies, knowledge sharing via extension materials in Lao, and emerging linkages for out-scaling. Adoption of promising new technologies has commenced, with farmers adopting Sub1 rice with submergence tolerance, new upland rice cultivars with higher yields, and forage grasses previously unknown in southern Laos. Farmers are also trying mechanised direct seeding, supplementary-irrigated post-rice crops, livestock-feeding strategies and other more complex systems to diversify and intensify their livelihood. Market awareness and use are emerging as improved skills for farmers as a result of social sciences. While the first signs of technology adoption are visible, sustained success in the longer term will require effort beyond the life of this project. Perhaps the greatest strength of this project is this robust framework in the provinces, with international and Lao staff collocated, and a pathway for delivery established across the typology via focal villages.