Agrarian Land-Use Transformation in Northern Laos

Based on filed surveys and satellite images analysis, the study found transformation of upland swidden area to permanent agricultural land (especially to grow sugar cane, maize and rubber) to have happened in Northern part of Laos along Asian Highway Route No.3 (North-South Corridor 3A) during the early 2000s. Downloadable at
www.nafri.org.la/document/SSLWM/ch2_07_sithong.pdf

IMPACT OF BORDER TRADE IN LOCAL LIVELIHOODS : Lao-Chinese Border Trade in Luang Namtha & Oudomxay Provinces

A background paper for National Development Report of UN in 2006. Besides positive effects, the paper raised migration, single crop reliance, uncertainty of expected income, smuggling and environment impacts as concerns for border trade in Northern Laos. Downloadable at http://www.nsc.gov.la/Products/NHDR%202006/Technical%20Background%20Papers%20in%20English/CBT_NHDR.pdf.

Sugarcane in Phongsaly: Story of a forecast disaster

Short but informative paper. It discussed conditions, under which replacing slash and burn farming by cash crop production might be a solution to forest preservation. Though not discussed explicitly, the paper also provided first hand information on the question why it was difficult to make the contract farming work.

http://mekonginfo.org/mrc_en%5Ccontact.nsf/0/2B49690F4E42255487256906003074BE/$FILE/pddp.pdf