The upland regions of northern Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Laos) are amongst the poorest in south-east Asia. The region is characterized by significant ethnic diversity, seasonal food shortages and heavy reliance on native forests to supplement household food supply and incomes. The establishment of teak woodlots has been promoted in upland areas of Laos by various government incentives, and
these woodlots have typically been established on shifting cultivation fields. Smallholder teak is now a significant component of the landscape in this region, especially in Luang Prabang Province, with an estimated planted area of 20,000 ha. Teak produces a high value timber, that is in strong demand both nationally and internationally, and teak when incorporated into smallholder farming systems can provide an effective investment strategy for smallholders and generate substantial economic benefits. However, current management systems for teak typically do not generate any income until approximately 15 years after planting, and those smallholders most likely to retain their woodlots until maturity typically have alternative livelihoods to upland cropping. Further, many smallholders cannot take advantage of the economic benefits of growing teak, as they don't have sufficient land or alternative sources of income prior to the trees reaching harvesting age. This project aims to investigate alternative management strategies for teak woodlot and teak-based agroforestry systems that will: a) reduce the age at which teak trees can be commercially harvested, b) integrate companion crops (i.e. staples such as upland rice, cash crops such as maize or banana, non-timber forest products such as paper mulberry or broom grass, or fodder crops such as cassava) into agroforestry systems to extend the period over which a smallholder can generate annual incomes from land planted with teak, and c) generate knowledge and improved genetic resources that will underpin the future successful adoption by smallholders of economically viable and socially acceptable farming systems involving teak. The project will implement a farmer participatory model of research and involves the establishment of a significant network of on-farm teak thinning and teak-based agroforestry trials. These trials will provide data and information that will be used to generate recommendations to optimize the economic and social benefits of teak-based agroforestry systems within context of northern Lao PDR, and in turn provide basis for development of training and extension material. The trial network itself will provide valuable extension tool, serving as tangible demonstration of alternative management practices. The research program will be conducted in collaboration with the Northern Agriculture and Forestry Research Center, Souphanouvong University, the Northern Agriculture and Forestry College, the Rice and Cash Crops Research Center and the University of Queensland(UQ). The project is supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
