Country Status Reports on Underutilized Crops by Bounthong Bouahom, Lao PDR - Regional Expert Consultation on Underutilized Crops for Food and Nutritional Security in Asia and the Pacific November 13-15, 2017, Bangkok

1. Neglected and Underutilized Crops
Status in Lao PDR
Dr. Bounthong BOUAHOM
Director General
National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR
Regional Expert Consultation on Underutilized Crops for Food and Nutrition Security in Asia and the
Pacific
Bangkok, Thailand, 13-15 November, 2017
Prepared for

2. Introduction
Lao PDR is land-locked country
with 236,800 square kilometers,
6,5 M
shares the border with China to
the north, Myanmar to the
northern-west, Thailand to the
west, Cambodia to the south and
Vietnam to the east,
70% of its terrain is mountainous.

3. From land-locked to land-linked

4. Lao PDR is largely an agrarian society with 70% of
people living in rural areas.
Rice is the main staple food of Lao people,
particularly sticky rice
NUS crops play significant role for the livelihoods in
rural areas

5. Neglected and underutilized crops (NUS) are non-
commodity crops and belong to thousands of
domesticated or wild species.
Non-Timber Forestry Products (NTFPs). NTFPs are defined
(NAFRI et al. 2007) as “All biological materials
(excluding timber) collected from natural or man-made
forests and riverine habitats used to support local
livelihoods”. While, subsistence household uses 44% of
NTFP , 41% of rice and other 14% (FAO, 2007).
Neglected and Underutilized
Species (NUS)in Lao PDR

6. Lao PDR is still rich in the diversity of its ecosystems, plant
and animal species and genetic resources.
Plant: 8,000-11,000 species
Mammals: 100 species
Birds: 700 species and
Reptiles and amphibians:166 species
It is recognized as a primary centre of origin and diversity
for cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) over 14,000 samples
represented 3,000 varieties of cultivated among that 80%
are glutinous rice.
Source: National Agricultural Biodiversity Programmed II in Lao PDR (2015)
Crop Diversity in Laos

7. Germplasm Collection in RRC and MCRC
Rice: 14,238 samples
: 234
Cassava: 48 samles
Grain legume: 88 samples Wide sugarcane: 108 samples Sorghum: 264 samples
Sweet potato, taro etc: 20 samples
Maize: 234 samples

8. LG5448
Amylose 13,27%
Aroma
LG3302 LG8140
Amylose 11,11% Amylose 21,24%
Aroma Non-aroma

11. Yam, Diascorea spp. Tubers pigmented, in bunches,
pigmented shoots, and fibrous roots

12. Yam Bean
ÓèÌâÑíà, common
throughout, fresh
tubereaten, at a
market in Vientiane
Diascorea
Encouraged crop,
leave a part of tuber
in soil to allow re-
growth sustainable
tradition

13. Large
tubers of
wild
Colocasia
and
Dioscorea

14. Some NTFPs

15. Strategies
Agriculture Development Strategy to
2025 and vision to 2030
Agriculture and Forestry Research
Strategy to 2025 and vision to 2030
Lao National Agro-Biodiversity
Programme and Action Plan II (2015-
2025)
 etc ..

16. 16

17. National Agro-Biodiversity Program
 Paddy Rice-Based Agro-Ecosystems.
 Diversified Agriculture Systems. Underutilized
crops, vegetables, fruit, livestock, and fish.
 Upland Agro-Ecosystems
Forest Ecosystems. Forested areas used by local
communities for the collection of food, fiber, herbs,
medicines, fuel and other products.
Commercial Agriculture Systems .
Wetland Ecosystems. Areas of permanent or
seasonal standing water or water-logged conditions.

18. Market and trade of NUS
Commercial agricultural operation in Lao PDR was driven
by market demand from the larger towns and demand
from neighboring countries,
Agricultural marketing happens unlikely unsystematic, number
of small traders operate and impermanent stall.
Crop export operated both formal and informal by few of
firms.
Agricultural goods export in fresh products.
NUS still at the level of traditional practice in term of
cultivation, post harvest, storage, processing and trade.
A few of NUS products is processed such as Mixed fruit and
root crops chips

19. Challenges
Difficulty in entering the market and make
people use and consume NUS crops. Less produce
and use.
 NUS crops is mainly collected in small volume.
Cultivation techniques is based on tradition
practices, it is difficult to meet market demand in
term of quantity and quality.
Need promotion and support for conservation and
sustainable use of NUS

20. Major focus
In order to make NUS useful and sustainable use we
need to consider all steps from upstream to
downstream of NUS:
Conduct survey, characterize and document of existing
NUS,
Germplasm collection and improvement,
Production, processing, value added,
Marketing and consumption promotion
Human resources development in NUS

21. Conclusion
Lao PDR is rich in plant species and plant genetic
diversity but under pressure.
There is limited information and knowledges of
existing NUS
 NUS could be promoted for food and nutrition
security
Improvement of cropping system, seed processing
and marketing opportunities, particularly niche market
should be identified.
Need more Research for NUS development

22. Thank you