SRI International Network and Resources Center

LAOS

Progress and Activities

2019 Updates

• Eleven Years of SRI Extension Helps SRI Take Root in Luangprabang Province

  [February 1, 2019] In 2007, Mr. Kazuyuki Shimazaki, who was working at that time with an ADB-fiinanced irrigation project in Laos, arranged to promote a SRI extension project through the Japanese NPO Pro-net 21 with additional technical and small-fund assistance from the JICA Partnership Program. The ensuing SRI extension program was promoted continuously for the next eleven years in three phases as follows:

  • SRI Phase-1 Project: Livelihood Improvement Project for the Rural Poor in Laos with Increase of Rice Production by Adopting Low-Input Rice Farming Technology ‘SRI’ (System of Rice Intensification) (September 2007 – June 2010)
  • SRI Phase-2 Project: SRI Extension Project in Luangprabang Province (October 2010 – Septmber 2013)
  • SRI Phase-3 Project: Diversified Farming Promotion Project for SRI Farmers in Luangprabang Province (December 2013 – November 2018)
    
    

  The objective of these SRI projects was to increase the number of SRI farmers who can manage SRI paddy cultivation through capacity-building so that their increased productivity can be self-sustaining after the project was completed. The Government offices responsible for SRI promotion was the PAFO (Provincial Agricultural and Forestry Office) and the DAFO (District Agricultural and Forestry Office) through field SRI extension activities. All extension workers are attached to the DAFO, so proper understanding and cooperation from high officials of both the PAFO and DAFO have been the key for success of SRI promotion. Financial support came from the JICA Partnership Program to Pro-net 21, which performed the key role making a successful series of SRI extension projects with the excellent cooperation of PAFO. .

  Due to the excellent cooperation among the PAFO, Pro-net 21, and JICA, the SRI extension under these projects has been very successful. And, according to the 2018 report, SRI has truly taken root in Luangprabang Province. Production of SRI paddy has greatly increased by obtaining 5 to 6 tons per hectare of SRI paddy yields steadily, and production of rice in the province has increased significantly. During the project, PAFO and DAFO staff, especially the agricultural extension workers, learned a lot, and their capacity has been significantly raised. Furthermore, many SRI farmers have become self-sustainable and more cooperative among themselves. Successful implementation of Animal Revolving Fund under famers’ own management under Phase-3 of the project is one evidence of farmers’ increased capacity-building. [See full report and SRI instructional guidelines for more information]

2018

• Lao PDR Results of SRI-LMB Project Reviewed at Final Workshop in Bangkok

  [November 30, 2018] The final SRI-LMB Regional Workshop was held November 1-2, 2018, in Bangkok, Thailand. Laos was one of the four countries participating in the Project on Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in the Lower Mekong River Basin (SRI-LMB), which implemented between June 2014 and August 2018. Farmers from eleven mostly rainfed provinces of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam have reported higher yields and profits from paddy grown with SRI management practices. The presentation on SRI progress in Lao PDR during the project was given by Mr. Thongsvanh Phathalavong (Deputy Director General, Dept. of Technical Extension and Agro-processing (DTEAP), MAF, Lao PDR), Mr. Viengxay Photakoun (Country Coordinator, SRI-LMB Project Deputy Director, DTEAP, MAF, Lao PDR), and Kongsy Xayavong (DTEAP, MAF, Lao PDR).  The project, which was based on the principles of SRI and Farmer Field School (FFS), was implemented in the three provinces: Vientiane Province (VangVieng, Feuang and Meun districts), Khammouan province (Nakay, Ghommalath and Mahaxay districts) and Savannaketh (Xonabouly, Champhone and Songkhone districts). A total of 82 Farmer Participatory Action Research (FPAR) sites were organized involving a total of 2,134 farmers (55% of which were women participants). A comparison in the yield of SRI farms in relation to the FP, had shown that SRI yields were higher by 27-35% across the three provinces. The average yield of SRI farms (4,136 kg/ha) was higher by 30% over FP farms (2,896 kg/ha). The number of tillers per sq mt. was 17-23% higher in SRI farms compared to FP farms, average number of tillers being 152 for SRI farms, compared to 123 tillers/ sq.mt. in case of FP farms. SRI farms also yielded higher number of grains per panicle (125) as against FP farms (116).

• Viengxay Photakoun Represents Laos at SRI Asia Networks Workshop in Johor, Malaysia

  [November 1, 2018] Viengxay Photakoun represented Laos and made a presentation at the Workshop to Enhance Cooperation and Sharing among SRI National Networks in Asia, held October 18-19, 2018, in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The event, which was attended by 50 participants from 17 countries, was organized by the Malaysian Agroecology Society (SRI-Mas), the Asian Centre of Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (ACISAI) at the Asian Institute of Technology, and SRI-Rice at Cornell University It allowed SRI network representatives and other stakeholders to share experiences and to investigate opportunities to collaborate on scaling-up, multi-country research, value chain improvements, accessing resources, and capacity building for SRI networks. The event also mapped out the possibilities for forming an Asia Regional SRI Network from the ten Asian SRI networks that operating the region. While Laos currently has no national SRI network, Viengxay Photakoun brought information on the current state of SRI promotion and adoption in Laos and discussed how NGOs and government agencies in Laos who are interested in SRI could possibly benefit from and contribute to an SRI Regional Network for Asia. [Workshop presentations by other participants are also available.]

• Brochures on the SRI-LMB Project in Laos Now Available

  [October 2, 2018] A new brochure about the SRI-LMB Project's work in Laos is now available in both English and Lao versions. The brochure outlines partners, project areas, and results in Laos for this four-year SRI-LMB project that ends in 2018. This leaflet describes the progress of the SRI-Lower Mekong River Basin project (2014-2018) in three Lao provinces. (The SRI-LMB also operated in Cambodia,Thailand, Vietnam). The project is based on the principles of SRI and Farmer Field Schools; training focus is on rice cultivation, SRI, Agro Eco System Analysis (AESA) and data collection/analysis, and, strengthening  both crop management skills and decision making abilities. The most widely adopted practices in this rainfed project in Laos is transplanting fewer seedings per hill and wider spacing (>20cm).

• National Review Workshop for SRI-LMB in Laos Held In Vientiane

  [September 1, 2018] The FPAR (Farmer Participatory Action Research) activities in Lao PDR came to an end in late 2017. Three provincial workshops were organized by the Department of Technical Extension and Agricultural Processing (DTEAP) July 23-27, 2018, in the project provinces of Savannakhet, Khammouane and Vientiane. The main objective for these events was to share and discuss the FPAR results and experiences. Led by the SRI-LMB country coordination team, the workshops were attended by 78 participants (17 women) including the coordinators and staff from the project,as well as other government departments from the provinces and districts, and the FPAR farmers. Discussions from these workshops fed into the national review workshop. The national review workshop was held on August 3, 2018, at Lao Plaza Hotel, Vientiane, to discuss the results and experiences of the SRI-LMB project in the background of relevant national policies. Co-chaired by Mr. Thongsavanh Phanthalavong, Deputy Director General of Department of Agricultural Extension and Technical processing (DTEAP); Dr Abha Mishra, Director of ACISAI, AIT; Mr. Jan Ketelaar, Chief Technical Advisor of FAO IPM Programme, and Mr. Ignacio Oliver Cruz from the Delegation of the European Union to Lao PDR, it was attended by 68 people (17 women) representing the FAO, the Delegation of the European Union to Laos, project teams at national, provincial and district-levels, farming communities, various government departments including the Department of Planning and Finance (DoPF) and the Department of Agriculture, and some Non-Government Organizations. (See SRI-LMB website fore details.)

2016-2017

• SRI-LMB Progress in Laos a Presented Regional Workshop in Vietnam

  [May 1, 2017] Viengxay Photakoun subsequently made a presentation on Key FPAR Learning and Draft Work Plans, Lao PDR at the SRI-LMB Regional Review and Planning Workshop 2017, held April 23-25, 2017, in Hanoi, Vietnam. The presentation reviewed progress and future plan for Lao participation in the project on 'Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice Intensification in the Lower Mekong Basin' (SRI-LMB). Despite initial challenges, comparison between SRI and farmers' practice (FP) for the project sites in the three provinces showed the SRI reduced the cost of production, while increasing yield, gross returns and net returns substantially (see slide 9 of PowerPoint). Recommendations for future activities included mechanization, linking to organic markets, integrating SRI with duck and fish production, and investigating rice seed production. Plans for 2017 include developing SRI-LMB curriculum and conducting field days, cross visits, and 82 FPAR trainings by October 2017. [See the regional workshop report for more presentations about Laos as well as the other countries in the SRI-LMB Project. A recent video of the SRI-LMB project provides an overview of the progress in all four countries (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam).

• National SRI-LMB Workshop Held in Vientiane

  [May 1, 2017] The first National Review and Planning Workshop was organized on 21st April 2017, at the Mercure Hotel, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Mr. Tiene Vannasouk, Deputy Director General, Department of Agricultural Extension and Cooperatives (DAEC), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry chaired the workshop in which about 40 participants participated. Details of the event are outlined on page 3 of the 2017 SRI-LMB Newsletter.

• SRI-LMB Project in Laos Makes Progress

  Since the project on 'Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice Intensification in the Lower Mekong Basin' (SRI-LMB) began in Laos in 2014, substantial progress has been made with adapting and adopting SRI for rainfed conditions. The project in Laos is implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension and Cooperative (DAEC) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), in partnership with ACISAI Center at AIT, Thailand, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Oxfam. To follow the progress of the project during 2014-2017, visit the Lao PDR page of the SRI-LMB project website. The Lao project sites in Vientiane, Khammuan and Savannakhet provinces are noted in the map at right (click on the map to enlarge it).

2015

• Lao Vice Minister Supports SRI at 2015 Global Forum for Food and Agriculture in Berlin

  [January 17, 2015] At the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture, held in Berlin, January 15-17, 2015, the Lao Vice Minister's speech mentioned the progress of SRI in Laos: "We have also had good results from different trials using the System of Rice Intensification to improve yields, without using large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers". [See full speech.]

2014

• SRI to be Implemented in Three Provinces by Lower Mekong Basin Project

  [June 29, 2014] Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, United Nations Forestry and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) met in Thalad, Vientiane province, to discuss the implementation of a System of Rice Intensification (SRI) project in Vientiane, Khammuan and Savannakhet provinces in Laos. Jointly organized by the Department of Agricultural Extension and Cooperatives and the FAO, the workshop centered on the theme 'Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice Intensification in the Lower Mekong Basin.'

• The SRI project in Laos, which will target smallholders' fields in rain-fed areas, is part of a larger regional project that became operational in February 2014. Projects are also underway in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, all as part of the five-year regional project funded through a 3.4 million euro grant from the European Union being implemented by the Asian Institute of Technology. The project will develop farmer field schools and will stimulate participatory action research by farmers themselves.

• Pro-Net 21 Enters Phase III of SRI Project in 5 Districts of Luang Prabang Province

  [January 7, 2014] On January 3, 2014, representatives of Pro-net 21, a Japanese NGO, and the provincial Agriculture and Forestry Department signed an MOU for the 5-year Phase III of their ongoing SRI project in Luang Prabang Province. According to an article in the Vientiane Times, the project will focus on 12 village in 5 districts of the province and be implemented by the provincial Agriculture and Forestry Department, supported by Pro-net 21 and funded by the JICA Partnership Programme. The SRI extension project has been ongoing since 2007, with over 600 farmers in 21 villages in seven districts of Luang Prabang province continuously using SRI on 300 hectares in the wet season and 200 ha in the dry season.

2013

• SRI Proposed for Asian Development Bank to carry out the Northern Rural Infrastructure Sector
  

  [September 10, 2013] The Faculty of Agriculture at the National University of Laos, the Institute of Rural Landscape, Japanese researchers and Lao agricultural officials from relevant government bodies met in Vientiane on September 9 to discuss the achievements of SRI that included three seasons of rice production data collected from one hectare at the Faculty of Agriculture. (Fourth season fields are not yet harvested.) The SRI research project, undertaken by the Faculty of Agriculture at the National University of Laos and Japan's Institute of Rural Landscape beginning in 2011, includes improved water and pumping systems, agri-meteorology equipment installation and improved rice cultivation. The Japanese Engineering Association of Survey Design for Rural Development (SDRED) assisted in the rehabilitation of an irrigation pump system Luang Prabang Province and formally handed it over during the event. Prior to beginning the project, SRI information from previous projects was collected from Nan and Pak-ou districts in Luang Prabang province to use as a reference. (See Vientiane Times article and seminar agenda for details.)

• Pronet-21, with technical assistance from Japanese International Cooperation Agency, also carried out an extension project in an area that had five seasons of SRI trials between 2007and 2010. Twenty farming households participated in an evaluation in area covering 140 hectares in seven irrigation areas in Vientiane, Xayaboury province, and and Luang Prabang province.

2012

• SRI Proposed for Asian Development Bank to carry out the Northern Rural Infrastructure Sector
  The Lao government has received a US$23 million grant from the Asian Development Bank to carry out the Northern Rural Infrastructure Sector Project from 2011-2017. The proposed poverty reduction and infrastructure project, which will target irrigation systems and roads, will be undertaken in 11 districts of the four northern provinces of Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Oudomxay, and Phongsaly. The population of this area is 760,000 people, a third of whom are considered to be living in poverty. At the project's first national steering committee meeting in Vientiane during January, 2012, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Ty Phommasak advocated introducing the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in conjunction with the infrastructure efforts. The Vientiane Times article about the ADB project noted that "Luang Prabang province is leading the way in using the innovative SRI method, and farmers there are very enthusiastic and supportive of the new technique after profiting from increased yields. Some farmers who have used this system have produced 6 to 7 tonnes of rice per hectare, while the traditional method only produces 3 to 4 tonnes. Some families who plant in fertile soil with good irrigation have harvested up to 9 tonnes per hectare."

For 2002-2011 SRI activities in Laos, see LAOS ARCHIVES

Reports and Articles

• Mishra, Abha, Jan Willem Ketelaar, Norman Uphoff and Max Whitten. 2021. Food security and climate-smart agriculture in the lower Mekong basin of Southeast Asia: evaluating impacts of system of rice intensification with special reference to rainfed agriculture. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability doi:10.1080/14735903.2020.1866852
• PAFO/DAFO Luangprabang and Pro-net21. 2018. Guideline on Luangprabang SRI. ProNet21. SRI-Rice website. (29p., 3.11MB pdf) [Results of a ProNet21/Govt.project for SRI farmers in Luangprabang, Laos, as part of a diversified farming promotion project] [uploaded March 13, 2019]
• PAFO/DAFO Luangprabang and Pro-net21. Technical Guideline on Luangprabang SRI. ProNet21. SRI-Rice website. (13p., 1.86MB pdf) [SRI technical manual used in ProNet21 SRI project in Luangprabang, Laos]
• 2018 (from 2016 report). Comprehensive Food Security through Community Based Forest Management and Improvement of Agricultural production / Rural Development. Japanese International Volunteer Center (JVC) website. [Village training and experience sharing about SRI]
• Bourjac, Mathilde, et al. 2017. Sustainable intensification of rainfed lowland rice systems: A case study in Xieng Khouang Province in Lao PDR. ECHO Development Notes 34: 37-39. [Presentation at 6th Biennial ECHO Asia Agriculture and Community Development Conference, Thailand, Oct. 3-16, 2017]
• ACISAI. 2017. Second Regional Review and Planning Workshop - Hanoi, Vietnam. SRI-LMB website. [Report on the workshop of the SRI-LMB Project -- Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in the Lower Mekong River Basin (SRI - LMB). Includes information from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam] [accessed July 2017]
• ACISAI. 2017. SRI-LMB Newsletter 5(1): 1-6. [Page 3 contains a review of the first National SRI-LMB Workshop in Laos, held April 21, 2017, in Vientiane ]
• PRO-NET21 (JICA). 2016. PRO-NET21 (JICA) / System of Rice Intensification. ALiSEA website. Accessed February 1.
• DAEC, MAF, ACISAI. 2015. FPAR Final Report - Lao PDR (Apr - Nov 2015). SRI-LMB website.
• DAEC, MAF, ACISAI. 2015. CFPAR Report - Lao PDR (May - Nov 2015). SRI-LMB website.
• ACISAI. 2015.Gender & Agricultural Labourers in Sustainable Agriculture Intensification - Training Guide for Lao PDR. SRI-LMB website. [subcontracted by Oxfam (one of the SRI-LMB project partners) to Antoine Southey (consultant).]
• Lao Vice Minister supports SRI at GFFA 2015, Berlin. SRI-LMB website. "We have also had good results from different trials using the System of Rice Intensification to improve yields, without using large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers".

• (Times reporter). 2014. Agricultural officials and FAO discuss rice intensification, Vientiane Times, June 27.
• ACISAI. 2014. National Inception and Planning Workshop Report. SRI-LMB website. [Event held June 16-17, 2014 in Vientiane Province]
• ACISAI. 2014. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) for SRI in Lao PDR - Report. SRI-LMB website. [prepared for ACISAI/AIT by Emerging Markets Consulting, Lao PDR.]
• ACISAI. 2013. Lao PDR Background Paper. SRI-LMB website. [Inception and Planning Workshop for the SRI-LMB project, April 9-12, 2013.]
• (Times reporter). 2014. SRI project helps improve farming systems in Luang Prabang, Vientiane Times, January 7.
• (Times reporter). 2013. Single rice seedling research boosts yields. Vientiane Times, September 10. [National University of Laos faculty, the Institute of Rural Landscape researchers from Japan and Lao agricultural officials met to discuss the SRI achievements of SRI.]
  September 10, 2013, (Laos)
• J-SRI. 2013. Rural development and SRI in Lao PDR. System of Rice Intensification website. September 9. (2p. 78KB pdf) [Agenda for a seminar in Vientiane organized by the Japanese Engineering Association of Survey Design for Rural Development (SDRED) and National University of Laos]
• Shimazaki, Kazuyuki. 2012. SRI in Laos, Chapter 7. Translated from: Rice Farming Revolution by SRI (in Japanese). Tokyo: J-SRI. (12p. 697 KB)
• Syvongxay, Khamphone. 2012. ADB backs agricultural development in north. Lao Voices website. February 6.(source: Vientiane Times) [Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Ty Phommasak suggests using Asian Development Grant funds for SRI]
• Syvongxay, Khamphone. 2011. Luang Prabang farmers lead way in rice intensification. Vientiane Times, May 23. [Reposted on the EC-FAO Food Security Programme website]
• 2011. Sayaboury: dry season rice production increased. Lao Voices website. May 12. [Source: KPL Lao News Agency]
• 2011. Rice farmers eye larger export crop. Lao Voices website. March 16. [source: Vientiane Times]
• 2010. Gnord-ou grows main rice crop on 2,400 ha. Lao Voices (source: KPL Lao News Agency). July 29.
• 2010. Let's paint the future of Laos with the people. JICA website. January 24. (in Japanese) [The promotion of SRI (System of Rice Intensification) in Laos by Pro-Net21 was featured in "JICA's World" (January 2010) with the special feature of "NGO and JICA - Wish to offer the power of cooperation"]
• LV. 2010. Attapeu: dry season rice plantation practiced on over 1,000 ha. Lao voices (source: KPL Lao News Agency). June 2.
• 2010. Rice farmers look to reap rewards of new technique. The Vientiane Times, issue 54, March 5. [retrieved March 5, 2010, as repost from the Samakomlao blog - access through Vientiane Times requires subscription]
• 2009 (July 29). Single seedlings technique benefiting rice farmers in northern provinces, In The Vientiane Times (online), issue 173, July 29. (retrieved July 29, 2009 - access by subscription]
• Synvongxay, Khamphone. 2008. New rice system produces higher yields. The Vientiane Times (online), issue 153, July 1.
• Phouthonesy, E. 2008. New rice cultivation method proves fruitful. The Vientiane Times (online), issue 078, April 1.
• Synvongxay, Khamphone. 2009. Single seeding method boosts yields. The Vientiane Times, Issue 41, February 18.
• Vongsakid, S. 2007. Report on SRI Development Work of Oxfam Australia (OAus). (5p. pdf) [Report by the Agriculture Program Officer in Laos, Oxfam Australia (OAus)].
• Vaenkeo, S. 2007. Savannakhet farmers learn new rice growing techniques. The Vientiane Times. issue 238, October. 10.
• AusAid. 2004.. Rice Revolution: A new organic method of growing rice is ensuring farmers in Laos have enough rice to last the year, Aid Close Up: Stories and People series. AusAid website. October. [More info on SRI in Laos can be found on the Oxfam International website.]
• Schiller, J. 2004. System of Rice Production - Suitability for Lowland Rice Production in the Lao PDR. March. (pdf) [Report on the potential of SRI in the Lao PDR and based on FAO-supported input]
• Vongsakid, S. 2002. Farmer Experimentation with the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Laos. Paper presented at the International Conference on Assessments of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), April 1-4, in Sanya, China. [presented on behalf of Oxfam, Community Action Aid]

Presentations

• Photakoun, Viengxay, and Kongsy Xayavong. SRI-LMB in Laos. 28 slides. Presentation at the SRI-LMB Regional Workshop, Novotel Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Thailand, November 1-2 , 2018.
• Photakoun, Viengxay. SRI-LMB in Laos. 8 slides. Presentation at the Workshop to Enhance Cooperation and Sharing among SRI National Networks in Asia, October 18-19, 2018, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
• Photakoun, Viengxay. 2017. Key FPAR Learning and Draft Work Plans, Lao PDR. Presentation at the SRI-LMB Regional Review and Planning Workshop 2017, Hanoi, Vietnam. SRI-LMB Slideshare website. 21 slides.
• 2009. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Experience under DOI Projects in Lao PDR. Presented by Vansay Sayasouk, Department of Irrigation, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry at the AIT/WBI SE Asia Regional SRI Workshop: Knowledge Exchange on SRI: Producing More with Less Water, held June 23-24, 2009, at AIT, Thailand. 38 slides.

Videos

• 2018 (October 29). Rice farming: The physical challenges for women. 6:29 min. Oxfam American channel, YouTube. [Video shown at the 5th International Rice Congress in Singapore during keynote address delivered by Le Minh.]
• 2017 (May 3). SRI LMB developing a more intelligent pathway for sustainable rice intensification. 7:59 min. SRI LMB channel, YouTube. [The AIT is implementing an EU-financed project entitled: “Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice Intensification (SRI)in the Lower Mekong River Basin”. The objective is to enhance resilience of rainfed small-scale farmers of Lower Mekong region confronting climate change.]

Photos

• Twelve photo collections from the Lao PDR section of the SRI-Lower Mekong River Basin project. 2014-2017 [For more info on project see Lao PDR SRI-LMB page]

• Photos from the SRI-LMB Project's FPAR Backstopping Visit to Lao PDR (19-29 June 2017).