Abstract:
Laos is a small and developing nation in Southeast Asia that is vulnerable to climate change. Some of the more severe effects of climate change in Laos are droughts, flooding and insect pests which are impacting rice production. Many paddy rice plantations throughout the country are facing large shortages of rice production for commercial sale and subsistence use. This thesis explores how paddy rice farmers may adapt to climate change effects by focusing on a village in Luang Prabang province, Laos. Drawing on the climate adaptation framework, Climate – Smart Agriculture (CSA) and qualitative interviews with farmers in Thongphiengvilay village, I explore how CSA may help farmers adapt to climate change.
The results of this study show that CSA could help Thongphiengvilay farmers cope with increased drought and pests. I also argue that CSA could build on or complement existing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) already used by farmers. Furthermore, my results indicate that CSA could help farmers who currently use synthetic approaches to tackle their decreasing rice price production. For example, synthetic fertilisers that are currently being used by farmers could be replaced with organic CSA approaches and produce similar yields and also ensure the environmentally sustainability of farmers’ lands for future seasons. Therefore, this thesis recommends a CSA approach for adapting to climate change in Thongphiengvilay village by implementing Climate – Smart Villages (CSVs).
Key words: climate change adaptation, CSA, TEK, Laos
