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Gender and Aquaculture in Lao PDR

Year of publication 1998

Product type Document

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract)   Gender and Aquaculture in Lao PDR: A synthesis of a socio-economic and gender alysis of the UNDP/FAO Aquaculture Development Project LAO/97/007    The gender and socio-economic roles of men and women in different forms of Lao aquaculture (pond, rice-cum-fish, mini-hatchery) have so far not been studied in-depth. This socio-economic and gender alysis of Lao aquaculture was conducted in five Lao provinces within the scope of the UNDP/FAO project LAO/97/007 in mid-1998. There are several traditio l fish farming practices. There is a potential for increasing the scale and efficiency of aquaculture activities in Lao PDR. However, aquaculture needs to be integrated into existing agricultural livelihood systems. There are high levels of interest among women and men farmers towards aquaculture. Easy access to fish for the family is one of the main reasons for both women’s and men’s interest in raising fish in Lao PDR, with income generation as an added bonus only where surplus fish is produce d. However there are high labour and fincial entry costs for pond based aquaculture, which only some farmers may be able to sustain. Both women and men are involved in aquaculture, although each have different roles at different stages of the fish production cycle. In Lao PDR, men select the site for pond construction and as heads of households are regarded as owners of ponds. The production from ponds depends largely on the time and effort allocated by women and children for pond magement and f or feeding of the fish. Men are responsible for harvesting the overall yield, and women are often responsible for harvesting fish for household consumption. Women control the cash income from the selling of fish at the pond site and in the market, although consultation with their husbands on household expenditure is common. While in theory women have access to aquaculture training and extension, in practice their access can often be limited because of gender biases in extension services. Existin g village fish farmer groups are largely composed of men. There is scope for inclusion of more women fish farmers in such groups, or establishing women fish farmer groups. The Agriculture Promotion Bank (APB) is the only source of formal credit for rural farmers. So far, credit programmes have not yet supported aquaculture because it is still considered a risky venture. There are opportunities for gender sensitive aquaculture promotion through other organisations such as the LWU. On the basis of the study findings, this report presents a range of practical recommendations for more gender sensitive aquaculture development in Lao PDR.   

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    Socio-economics and Gender in Aquaculture 1998
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    The gender and socio-economic roles of men and women in different forms of Lao aquaculture (pond, rice-cum-fish, mini-hatchery) have not been widely investigated. This socio-economic and gender analysis study of Lao aquaculture was conducted in five Lao provinces within the scope of the UNDP/FAO project Lao/97/007. The Lao PDR population is predominantly involved in agricultural activities and increasing food security and income levels of poorer farmers of all ethnic groups are key priorities. T he rural Lao PDR population depend primarily on rice cultivation coupled to a wide variety of other agricultural (pigs, poultry, buffalo etc) and wild food foraging activities for their food security. Both captured and cultivated fish is widely consumed and commands a premium price in markets. Easy access to fish for the family is one of the main reasons for both women's and men's interest in raising fish in Lao PDR. It is considered that there is a potential for increasing the scale and efficie ncy of aquaculture activities in Lao PDR. However, in most rural areas visited in Lao PDR during the study, aquaculture is considered as a side activity integrated with other agricultural activities. There are good opportunities to further integrate aquaculture into existing agricultural livelihood systems. The majority of men and women fish farmers interviewed conducted aquaculture primarily for household food security, with income generation as an added bonus only where surplus fish were produced. Fish production for food security is considered to require low labour intensity once established. There are high levels of interest among women farmers towards aquaculture. However there are high labour and financial entry costs for pond based aquaculture, which only some farmers may be able to sustain. Income generation from fish production may also incur higher labour demand. Both women and men are involved in aquaculture, although each may have different roles at different st ages of the fish production cycle. There are few cultural constraints to women's participation in most aquaculture activities. In Lao PDR men select the site for pond construction and as heads of households are regarded as owners of ponds. While men often make the major decisions concerning the production system, the production from ponds also depends on the time and effort allocated by women and children for pond management and for feeding of the fish. Men are responsible for harvesting the ove rall yield; women are often responsible for harvesting fish for household consumption. Women control the cash income from the selling of fish at the pond site and in the market, although consultation with their husbands on household expenditure is common. Income distribution within the household is relatively equitable, so income generated from aquaculture is likely to benefit entire households. Older women (over 40) may be more suitable for involvement in aquaculture activities. Only experience d (e.g. > 3 years) and relatively better off men and women farmers are likely to be able to engage in mini-hatchery enterprises.
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