Trends and perceptions of rural household groundwater use and the implications for smallholder agriculture in rain-fed Southern Laos

Abstract

In Laos, the extent of rural groundwater use is largely unknown. This paper presents results of a study conducted in Champasak province, Southern Laos, to examine rural household attitudes to groundwater use and management; and to gauge farmer perceptions of the opportunities/constraints of increased groundwater use for smallholder agriculture. Significant differences in groundwater use, total cash income and perceived groundwater quality were found. Further agricultural expansion was constrained by insufficient labour and the limited area of individual landholdings, not by the limited groundwater supply, which was the preferred source to fulfil increased demands for domestic/agricultural use. There were no groundwater regulations.

Keywords::

• Laos
• water resources development
• groundwater use
• perceptions
• smallholder agriculture

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the survey enumerators who consisted of staff from the Agriculture and Forestry Policy Research Centre and the Southern Agriculture and Forestry Research Centre. Additionally, they acknowledge the staff from the District Agriculture and Forestry Offices in Phonthong and Sukhuma districts and the village authorities who facilitated the household interviews. The authors would also like to express their appreciation for the time and assistance given by household respondents who took part in the interviews. Finally, the authors are grateful to Mr Khamsouk Mosky, International Rice Research Institute, who provided additional vehicle access and project support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Lao Kip (LAK); US$1 = 7582 LAK in June 2013.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project entitled ‘Developing Improved Farming and Marketing Systems in Rainfed Regions of Southern Lao PDR’ [grant number CSE/2009/004].