Assessment of opium-based fanning systems: a case study in the Nahom area,Oudomxay Province in Northern Laos

Citation
J. Chen et al., Assessment of opium-based fanning systems: a case study in the Nahom area,Oudomxay Province in Northern Laos, INT J SUS D, 8(1), 2001, pp. 47-55
Citations number
9
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND WORLD ECOLOGY
ISSN journal
1350-4509 → ACNP
Volume
8
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
47 - 55
Database
ISI
SICI code
1350-4509(200103)8:1<47:AOOFSA>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
Pm interdisciplinary team of 10 completed an exploratory one-month survey o f villages in Nahom, Oudomxay Province, Laos, an area representative of upl and farming systems based on opium and shifting cultivation. The study incl uded investigation of the physical and socioeconomic environments and asses sment of the farming systems. Due to the relatively low population density, there is enough land for villagers to practice shifting cultivation with a one year cultivation cycle, followed by 10-12 years of fallow. The soil de gradation commonly caused by shifting cultivation was not significant in th is area and the soil fertility is still relatively high. However, most of t he original forests had been cut down and used for shifting cultivation and some degradation of the vegetation has occurred, showing that the ecologic al sustainability has been threatened by prevailing practices. Thirty-six p ercent of the households had food supply problems for more than three month s of each year. The extremely low return for labour from upland rice cultiv ation, only 5.64 kg per labour-day, was the critical factor that caused the food shortage. Because of poor technique, rice yield from paddy fields was also low, thus shifting cultivators hale no enthusiasm to expand their pad dy fields. Income from opium provided 80.5% of household income. Opium was extremely tempting to local people due to the very high return for labour, 5700 kip (US$6) per labour-day, low investment, and good labour availabilit y (mostly during the off-season of rice cultivation). However, opium was al so a 'two-edged sword'. It did not bring real wealth, health and happiness but instead brings poverty, poor health and disappointment.