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Energy Analysis of Rice Farming Systems in Selected Villages of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Thesis Abstract:
The study was conducted in the predominantly rice-producing province of Luangprabang, Lao PDR from November 2002 to January 2003. Three districts were selected, namely: Pak-Ou, Luangprabang and Chomphet, and from each district, one village was chosen—Mok-Meung, Pak-Chek, and Hat-Xua, respectively. Data were gathered through focus group discussion (FGD) and individual farmer’s interview (IFI) using a pre-tested questionnaire from 157 farmers selected based on set criteria. In the individual farmer’s interview (IFI), specific data on crop yield, financial expenditures, and energy used were asked. Data obtained during IFI was used in the comparative evaluation of the three farming systems, namely: organic farming, LEISA and high external input/modern agriculture (HEIA).
High external input/modern method of rice production yielded the highest rice harvest (3,265.19 kg ha-1) compared with LEISA (3,051.49 kg ha-1) and organic method of rice production (3,119.13 kg ha-1). But the cash cost to grow rice the modern way was the highest at USD62.73 ha-1. The least expensive rice to grow was in organic method at USD2.00 ha-1 and LEISA was at the middle at USD36.27 ha-1.
As a result, organic farms earned the highest net revenue at USD255.78 ha-1 that was almost 86 percent higher than HEIA (USD194.47 ha-1) and 77.5 percent for LEISA (USD175.00 ha-1). HEIA farms spent USD41.18 to produce a ton of paddy rice while only USD36.78 for LEISA. The least expensive was in organic farms at USD27.60. Due to the lower cash expenditure in organic farms, their break-even yield was likewise low at 0.861 ton ha-1 as against 1.320 ha-1ton in HEIA and 1.119 t ha-1 in LEISA farms. Organic farmers realized a net return of USD117.75 per dollar of cash expenditure which was 21 times greater than that of LEISA farms (USD5.53 per dollar), and 36 times greater than what HEIA farm (USD3.28 per dollar). This was mainly due to the zero cash expense to buy agrochemical inputs, machines, and fuel used in growing rice the organic way. Moreover, the use of family labor and labor exchange through farmer organization enabled the organic farmers to avoid incurring cash expense in growing rice.
The level of energy utilized varied among farming systems. Organic farming system used the least amount of energy per hectare at 591.37 Mcal ha-1, which was only 25.26 percent of the total energy used in HEIS farms (2,340. 54 Mcal ha-1) and 37 percent of that utilized by LEISA farms (1,592.55 Mcal ha-1). Organic farm systems across the three villages were four times more energy efficient than HEIA and about three times compared with LEISA.
The indirect fossil fuel-based energy (IFFE) inputs like labor and seeds differed across sites. Organic farm utilized 13.23 percent more IFFE than HEIA farms (523.98 Mcal ha-1) and 8 percent higher than LEISA (550.40 Mcal ha-1). This was due to the organic farmers’ practice of using manual labor in hauling carabao dung and rice paddy during harvest time and sowing more rice seeds.
Organic method of rice farming was found to be both a cost and energy saving farming system and holds greater promise for the farmers in uplifting their economic status. This farming system, being environment-friendly, is also a better means of utilizing renewable and indigenous resources in the countryside. Organic farming enables the farmer to earn more using input with meager expenses as they can establish new crop without incurring more debts. More research on on-farm trials should be done to increase further yields in organic farms. Government extension programs should equally promote organic method of rice production in Lao PDR.