i Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic Executing Entity/Implementing Partner: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, MAF, Vientiane, Lao PDR Implementing Entity/Responsible Partner: National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, NAFRI United Nations Development Programme Selected agriculture concepts, approaches, commodities for development of CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULES FOR LAO PDR: 1. OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS Improving the Resilience of the Agriculture Sector in Lao PDR to Climate Change Impacts (IRAS Lao Project) Project Contact : Mr. Khamphone Mounlamai, Project Manager Email Address : [email protected]June 30, 2012 ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊ ົນລາວ Lao People's Democratic Republic ອົງການສະຫະປະຊາຊາດເພ ອການພັດທະນາ United Nations Development Programme
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i
Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Executing Entity/Implementing Partner: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, MAF, Vientiane, Lao PDR
Implementing Entity/Responsible Partner: National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, NAFRI
United Nations Development Programme
Selected agriculture concepts, approaches, commodities for development of
CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULES FOR LAO PDR:
1. OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS
Improving the Resilience of the Agriculture Sector in Lao PDR to Climate Change Impacts (IRAS Lao Project)
CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULE FOR OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS
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List of Figures
# Title Page
Figure 1 The Upland Farm 6
Figure 2 Three sets of interventions for climate change adaptation in upland
farming
9
Figure 3a Example of a community resource map 14
Figure 3b Example of a livelihood calendar 14
Figure 3c Example of a community hazard map 15
Figure 3d Example of monthly calendar showing changing climatic conditions 15
Figure 3e Example of a chart on effects of hazards and climate change 16
Figure 3f Example of a Prioritization Chart 16
CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULE FOR OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS
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BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION
The need for Climate Change Adaptation
The Ministry of Agriculture (MAF), in collaboration with the UNDP, is presently implementing the
Project entitled “Improving the Resilience of the Agriculture Sector in Lao PDR to Climate
Change Impacts” or the IRAS Project. This project addresses the need to adapt to climate
change in the agriculture sector.
The IRAS project document states that “the current and future climate-related risks to Lao PDR
and key areas of vulnerability have been analyzed in the country’s First National
Communication (STEA, October 2000) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) and the National Adaptation Programme of Action (WREA, April 2009).
According to the updated Koeppen-Geiger classification from 2006, as cited by the IRAS Project
document, there will be more rainfall events in the centre and the north of the country during the
first half of the century and an expansion of climatic conditions at present prevailing in the south,
these slightly shrinking again in the second half of the century. These expected changes will
require resilience and early gained adaptive capacity of the agricultural sector and the farmers
to cope with the situation. Seen as a function of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity, Lao
PDR ranks as one of the most vulnerable countries in South East Asia.
Climate change is expected to change the frequency, intensity and location of existing climate
hazards and challenge the existing coping mechanisms of the population; especially those living
in rural and remote places. (IRAS Project Document, 2010)
The IRAS Project
The objective of the IRAS Project is to minimize food insecurity resulting from climate change in
Lao PDR and to reduce the vulnerability of farmers to extreme flooding and drought events.
There are four expected outcomes:
Outcome 1: Knowledge base on Climate Change impacts in Lao PDR on agricultural
production, food security and vulnerability, and local coping mechanisms strengthened;
Outcome 2: Capacities of sectoral planners and agricultural producers strengthened to
understand and address climate change – related risks and opportunities for local food
production and socio-economic conditions
Outcome 3: Community-based adaptive agricultural practices and off-farm opportunities
demonstrated and promoted within suitable agro-ecological systems
Outcome 4: Adaptation Monitoring and Learning as a long-term process
CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULE FOR OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS
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The Climate Change Training and Adaptation Modules or CCTAMs
Under the IRAS project, the MAF in collaboration with the UNDP and other Government of Lao
(GoL) and Non-government Organisation (NGO) partners, is now preparing six (6) guides for
extension officers/workers who will be involved in promoting good practices and technologies for
climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector. Entitled the “Climate Change Training
and Adaptation Module” or CCTAMs, these guides are part of the target outputs of the MAF –
NAFRI project entitled “Improving Resilience in Agriculture Sector to Climate Change” or IRAS
Project. The CCTAMs are:
1. Overview of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) for Upland Farming Conditions
2. Overview of CCA in Lowland Farming
3. CCA through On-farm and Community Level Water Management
4. CCA in Crop Production
5. CCA in Small Livestock
Objectives of the CCTAMs
a. Provide an overview of the challenges posed by the combined effects of land
degradation due to inappropriate land use practices and the effects of climate change;
b. Provide an overview of the range of practices and technologies that may be considered
to adapt to climate change, at the same time addressing the issues of natural resource
degradation; and
c. Serve as a quick reference to existing relevant extension materials and making the latter
available to the extension officers/workers.
How were the CCTAMs prepared?
Stakeholder consultations at the provincial and national levels identified the key issues as a
result of the combined effects of natural resources degradation, inappropriate agricultural land
use practices and climate change. Subsequent consultations identified possible measures that
can be applied. The CCTAM assembles the key knowledge from communities and researchers
in the areas of natural resource management, sustainable agriculture and recent dialogue on
climate change adaptation.
How will the CCTAMs be used?
The first step is to determine the location-specific needs of farming communities. PAFO and
DAFO personnel may use CCTAM #1 on Upland Farming conditions and the CCTAM #2 on
Lowland Farming conditions to obtain an overview of the upland and lowland situation as well as
problems associated with drought and flood conditions.
The PAFO and DAFO, together with local authorities and local partners, can use Part 3 of the
CCTAMs #1 (Upland Farming) and #2 (Lowland Farming) to facilitate a simple community
CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULE FOR OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS
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based action planning process for adaptation to climate change. Part 3 provides several
participatory planning tools. The output will be priority issues and actions.
Based on the priorities set by farming communities, Extension Officers in consultation with local
authorities, will identify priority actions from among the options cited in the CCTAMs. Based on
the agreement with communities, the selected options will then be tested and demonstrated on
the ground. Results from several seasons of observation will be documented, analyzed and
discussed; and used to revise the CCTAMs and/or develop more detailed local guides.
CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULE FOR OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS
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SELECTED AGRICULTURE CONCEPTS, APPROACHES,
COMMODITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OFCLIMATE CHANGE
TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULES FOR LAO PDR # 1:
OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS
This is the first of the five (5) CCTAMs entitled “OVERVIEW OF CLIMATE CHANGE
ADAPTATION FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS”. This guide provides a brief description
of upland farming conditions; the emerging effects of climate change; and what can be done
about it.
It proposes that, to be successful at climate change adaptation, two simultaneous sets of
actions are needed. The first would be fundamental actions that help protect /restore degraded
local natural resources (forests, water, and soils). The second are immediate actions that adjust
to changing climatic conditions (climate smart varieties, timing of planting). Both sets of actions
can be done at both farm and community or landscape levels. Landscapes may refer to the
physical mosaic or web of mountains, forests, rivers, and farms that are linked to each other in
the locality.
This guide consists of three parts. Part 1 discusses some key practical concepts that need to
be appreciated when addressing climate change in agriculture particularly under upland farming
conditions.
Part 2 discusses the range of strategies that may be considered and tested in specific upland
locations. Part 2 is supported by subsequent extension guides (CCTAMs #3, #4 and #5).
Part 3 discusses specific steps on how the local extension team, in collaboration with other local
service providers, can guide farming communities to understand and act on their current
situation as affected by climate change. This involves the use of participatory planning tools,
adapted from successful experience elsewhere. These tools can help communities identify
priority issues important to them, and pinpoint priority actions that they would like to do, based
on recommendations from the extension team.
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1.0 WHAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IN PLANNING CLIMATE
CHANGE ADAPTATION IN UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS?
1.1 What are the natural features of upland farms and land use practices that predispose
them to low productivity?
It is generally known that upland farms are currently less productive than lowland farms. This
situation is the result of natural features (e.g. high surface runoff and erosion) and limitations of
upland ecosystems, as well as land use practices that are inappropriate to the fragile nature of
these ecosystems. Climate change exacerbates the effects of the natural limitations as well as
inappropriate land use practices, on overall farm productivity.
The following are some key relevant features of upland farming in the country:
Variable farm conditions due to variations in slope, altitude, soil fertility, ethnic
practices, among others. An upland farm actually consists of several parcels – this
include a hilly “side slope”, a small “valley bottom” and a fallow land. Each of these land
forms requires a different set of practices and farm resources. Developing and
maintaining upland farms require much attention, capital and effort on the part of
farmers. Limited labor availability and lack of financial resources prevents upland
farmers from doing this.
Farms depend on forests for the wide range of goods and ecological services. These
goods include NTFPs, construction materials, etc. These often serve as safety nets
(supplemental sources of food and income) especially during lean months
Forests ecological services that are important to farming include soil fertility restoration
during fallow periods and the export of nutrients from decomposing biomass (dead
leaves, etc.) to farms through water run-off. Forests help soils absorb rainfall and
recharge local aquifers and springs.
Forest biodiversity hosts organisms that are important for crop pollination and natural
crop protection. Degradation of local forests or even shorter fallow periods means that
farmers are less able than before to avail of these ecological services leading to the
decline of farm productivity.
Low soil fertility. Low soil fertility is a function of several factors. First, high rainfall in
the tropics leads to excessive drainage of nutrients (leaching) making many vital
nutrients become unavailable to plants. Second, high rainfall on sloping land leads to
high water runoff and erosion of valuable top soil. Third, the usual farmer practices that
involve plowing up and down the slope abet the situation. The result is poor soil, unable
to support major productivity increases of upland farms.
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Critical need for water management. Most upland farms rely on rainfall in the absence
of irrigation facilities. During the wet season, sloping conditions lead to very high surface
runoff often causing damage to life and property. Most of that rainfall is not absorbed by
the soil. Land use practices that cause soil erosion also abets water runoff. At the same
time, soils with low organic matter absorb only a little amount of the rainfall that is
needed by plants. There is very limited water during the dry season.
Changing landscapes. Policies that discourage slash and burn agriculture and
reduced fallow periods have led to high labor costs especially in weed control. Shifts to
intensive upland cultivation of commercial crops have abetted erosion rates and loss of
biodiversity.
Limited access to markets and access to extension services lead farmers to rely on
subsistence farming and constrain diversification of farm commodities. There is also a
lack of access to important extension services such a vaccination of animals. This
makes farmers more vulnerable because many animals die early and the farmer loses
part of his /her safety nets.
Figure 1. The upland farm. The upland farm would usually consist of an area under fallow (background of left picture), the side slope (foreground of left picture) where uplands crops are raised, and the valley bottoms (right) where paddy rice is raised. Forests are important to the productivity of the farm (right). Each zone of the upland farm would require its own set of ecologically sound interventions.
1.2 How is climate change affecting farming in the uplands?
In addition to issues of land degradation, farmers are beginning to experience what could be the
effects of climate change in the upland areas. The effects of climate change could be drastic,
which could put them under the category of hazards (flash floods, landslides, etc.) or slow
acting, such as gradual changes in rainfall. Unless further data would prove otherwise, it may be
CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULE FOR OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS
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noted that hazards are likely caused largely by land degradation due to local land use patterns
but abetted by extreme weather events that may be caused by climate change. Available
regional /country data indicate more intense rainfalls and a gradual increase in temperature
leading to high evaporation and evapo-transpiration rates. Floods and droughts will be expected
to occur more frequently.
Climate change exacerbates land degradation and its subsequent effects. Intense rains from
storm events increase the volume of water runoff and soil erosion. Late rains or premature end
of rains further reduces the already declining farm yields due to land degradation. Temperature
changes and very wet conditions due to climate change make plants and animals prone to
disease while water quality resulting from erosion and pollution affect the productivity of
fisheries and other living aquatic resources are also affected.
1.3 Given the complex link between farms, forest and water resources, what overall
approach is needed to address CC in upland areas?
Water is the central issue. Addressing climate change primarily deals with water. Either there
is too much of it (flooding) or too little of it (droughts). It also deals with the timing of water
availability i.e. available at the wrong time (delayed rainfall or premature end).
The degradation of forests, loss of top soil and overall biodiversity decline due to shifts to
intensive agriculture, contribute substantially to the vulnerability of upland farms to the effects of
climate change, and particularly to the action of water. With little forest left, there is little to hold
the water from cascading downhill, and farms become vulnerable to floods and landslides.
Also, aquifers and springs needed by farm households are not sufficiently replenished.
The remaining soils after erosion have poor organic matter content. It can retain only a small
amount of rain that falls on the ground which is often insufficient to support good plant growth.
Excessive erosion also causes sedimentation of rivers and affects aquatic habitats and fishery
yields.
Two vital sets of actions are needed.
There are various technical strategies that have been proposed to increase adaptive capacity of
farms to climate change. This would range from adjusting the planting time, diversifying is
species and varieties, constructing water ponds, etc.
In the case of Lao uplands, it is important that in addition to the aforementioned measure that
would bring immediate alleviation, farming communities would also need to invest time and
effort to arrest the further decline of the resource base (forests, soils, and water resources) and
in fact apply measures to regenerate them. Such measures may include better protection of
local forests, assisting forest regeneration setting up gully checks; and soil amelioration. It may
also involve the control of animal movements to protect young forest seedlings or controlling the
disposal of agricultural chemicals on waterways.
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One set of actions is not complete without the other. For instance, immediate action, say in the
form of improved, drought tolerant varieties is not sustainable if the soils continue to be
unproductive due to uncontrolled erosion. On the other hand, solely working on restorative
actions such as forest regeneration would be insensitive to the immediate food and cash needs
of the upland farm household.
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2.0 OVERVIEW OF VARIOUS STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE
CHANGE IN THE UPLANDS
Part 2 provides an overview of the various good practices and technologies for reducing
vulnerability and increasing resilience to climate change that individual upland farmers and
communities can do. This is essentially a long list of recommendations. Local extension teams
will need to determine which of the recommendations will be applicable in the locality, based on
a participatory appraisal of the situation, together with target communities.
The overview topics below represent particular themes in CCA in agriculture. We start with the
action needed for water and soil because these are the fundamental “platforms” upon which
food production is based. These are then followed by the topics that represent components of
farming systems such as crop production (annual and perennial) and livestock integration into
the farming systems.
Under each topic, a quick overview of the upland context is first provided. This is immediately
followed by a short summary of recommended sets of technical strategies. More details are
provided in separate CCTAMs with the same titles.
Figure 2. Three sets of interventions. At least three sets of interventions for climate change adaptation are proposed in upland farming. These are water management - example is gully check dam system (left); adaptation in crop production - example is soil moisture retention through mulching (center); and adaptation in small livestock production - an example would be supplementing free range with good nutrition from forages raised in the farm (right).
2.1 On-farm and community level water management
2.1.1 Upland context
As most farms are rainfed, and given the recent erratic behavior of rainfall, insufficiency of water
and the need to store it, is a fundamental concern. In other parts of the year, too much water
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generate large volumes of water runoff that often lead to the collapse of weirs and earth dams;
causes landslides, and posing a threat to life and property.
In terms of storing water, there are essentially three interdependent options. These are storing
surface water; recharging ground water; and increasing soil water holding capacity.
Conserving surface water may be done on a large scale (reservoir), medium scale
(village ponds) or at micro scale (farm ponds). In the uplands, weir construction is a
popular practice but they have been vulnerable to damage lately. On the other hand,
village ponds and farm ponds provide immediate sources of water but they usually
do not last during the dry months.
Ensuring availability of water from underground aquifers or groundwater represents a
second conservation method. It is not as popular in the uplands as it is in the
lowlands. But some farmers have begun using these.
A third source of water is soil moisture. Improving soil water holding capacity is
essential. If the soil has sufficient moisture after the first crop or rice, this condition
may enable the farmer to plant one more crop (usually upland crop) after the main
wet season crops.
2.1.2 Basic strategies
The adaptation measures are discussed in CCTAM # 3 entitled “On- farm and Community Level
Water Management” and are summarized into the following types:
Managing surface runoff in the farm. Some amount of runoff is important to
transport nutrient- rich, top soil to rice paddies in valley bottoms. But too much of it is
problematic. Because of the sloping character of upland farms, water conservation in
the uplands must deal foremost with water runoff. Depending on the steepness of
the slope, the key actions that can be done include: contour plowing; construction of
diversion canals at the topmost portion of the farm; soil conservation structures such
as the Natural Vegetative Strips; and small soil trenches (sediment traps cum
percolation pits).
Construction of farm ponds and water harvesting tanks. This involves improving
the design and management of ponds in order to reduce the rate of evaporation or
seepage so that the water can last longer to support a longer cropping period.
Construction of water harvesting tanks is also promoted in households using the GI or
tile roof as catchment.
Improving soil water holding capacity. Improve soil moisture by increasing the
organic matter in the soil. The actions include: mulching; green maturing with
leguminous cover crops especially with food value and minimum tillage and zero-
tillage.
Protecting the community natural water supply system. At the landscape level,
protect the forest cover in critical zones of the community watershed and recharge
groundwater resources. Check dams and micro percolation dams are some methods
that help recharge aquifers.
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2.2 Adaptation measures in crop production
2.2.1 Upland context
In the upland farm context, there are three types of land forms to grow crops (annual and
perennial). These would be in (a) newly opened fallow lands which is usually a hilly side slope;
(b) in the valley bottom (the most fertile zone and where rice is grown); and (c) the fallow land
itself (planted to understory, shade-loving crops).
Adaptation strategies for crop production need to take into account the inherent characteristics
of each landform. Valley bottoms, for instance, being the most fertile and likely to have higher
soil moisture, can be the area where most crop diversification especially with annual crops
(planting one or two more crops after rice) is likely to succeed.
Given land limitations, the hilly side slopes on the other hand would be suitable to perennial tree
crops although special provisions need to be made to ensure resilience to water stress for
young seedlings.
2.3.2 Basic strategies
The adaptation measures are discussed in CCTAM # 4 entitled “CCTAM in Crop Production”
and are summarized into the following types:
Soil fertility management: making the plants healthy to withstand moisture stress and
pest and disease among others ;
Innovative and nature based production systems: this involve low external input
production such as the systems for rice intensification or SRI
Use of climate smart varieties: using varieties that are drought resistant or tolerant to
submerged conditions.
Crop diversification: growing crops in addition to or as alternative to rice. These
crops are usually more tolerant to either too little or too much water;
Growing vegetables under harsh climatic conditions: vegetable growing both at
backyard level and market level that are more resilient to harsh conditions;
Growing fruit trees in the farm: using trees to help conserve soil, improve fertility
improve the microclimate and generate income;
Integrated pest management: preventing the pest situation from worsening due to
climatic aberrations and protect the farmer from accident ;
Post harvest handling: minimize further losses from already existing low production
levels;
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Timing of planting production systems: an early advisory system to enable a change
the time of planting of the major crop to adjust match the availability of rains.
2.3 Small livestock production
2.3.1 Upland context
Traditional free range systems in the uplands allow farmers to address the nutritional needs of
livestock where labor is limited and commercial feeds are unaffordable. But this also
predisposes animals, especially young animals to disease. Added to this is crop damage The
traditional supplemental feeding with native green fodder is affected by decreasing access to
open, idle lands for grazing and the declining supply of green feeds during the dry months.
Women and children are increasingly spending more time to look for green feeds. The
challenge is how to help farmers transition from the free range system to the penned system but
without subjecting the animals to risks of low nutrition (where penned animals are not have
adequate access to feeds.) Containment helps in disease prevention and ensures that animal
waste is retained in the farm.
2.3.2 Basic strategies
The key strategies are discussed in detail in CCTAM # 5 on Small Livestock Production and are
summarized below.
Improve livestock nutrition. To achieve their full growth potential and strengthen
resistance to diseases, livestock will be fully or partially penned and provided with
quality grasses and legumes grown on farm;
Improve animal health. Promote timely vaccination and preventive measures
particularly among young animals;
Housing and water. These protect livestock especially young animals from extreme
heat and wet conditions. This system also ensure that important livestock waste can be
easily collected for farm use;
Breeding management of native breeds. Support the preference for native breeds
because of higher adaptability; but achieve their potential through proper selection and
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