Rice shortages widespread in Laos
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Rice.htm

While Laos is normally able to produce enough rice to meet national demand, 56 districts out of the total 143 have failed to grow the rice they need for local consumption, a minister has said.

Low rainfall and flooding have been the main reasons why Laos has failed on occasion to meet its rice production targets, Mr Sitaheng told the president.

Some 40,000 tonnes of rice have been lost each year for the past five years due to extreme weather events, resulting in losses of 400 billion kip.

What is the solution? How can we fight mother nature? It will lead to economic and social problem. Maybe drought problem can be solved with technology.
:(

Well, it is easy to blame the weather for everything, especially for rice shortage in Laos. Don't forget that most farmers in Vientiane for example have sold their farms/rice fields to buy cars and mobile phones whilst many have filled in their farms/rice fields and built villas instead. You may have noticed (if you have been back to Vientiane at all) that there are hardly any rice field left to see these days. Shame!



llX wrote on 7^th Feb, 2011 at 6:43am:

Rice shortages widespread in Laos http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Rice.htm While Laos is normally able to produce enough rice to meet national demand, 56 districts out of the total 143 have failed to grow the rice they need for local consumption, a minister has said. Low rainfall and flooding have been the main reasons why Laos has failed on occasion to meet its rice production targets, Mr Sitaheng told the president. Some 40,000 tonnes of rice have been lost each year for the past five years due to extreme weather events, resulting in losses of 400 billion kip.

Yes, there's not many rice fields left in Vientiane, but there's still plenty of rice fields in rural areas.

Sometimes farmers have no choice but to give up their land, because the Government needs it.

To build Lao-ITTEC and the sports stadium for example.

They say most of land in Laos is mountain only 8% is suitable for agriculture. We use to have good land for farming like Issan, and Sipsongpanna but Thailand and China annexed those territory.  
8-) ;)

Good point. I have not been to Vientiane lately, but still has relative living there. Maybe irrigation system, reservoir to store water, technology will help. In America for example only 1% of the population is a farmer, but with technology these 1% can produce enough food to feed the rest of the 300 million population, and have surplus for exported. But America is a big country and have a lot of good land for agriculture.  
:)


Lao Dreamer wrote on 9^th Feb, 2011 at 12:47am:

Well, it is easy to blame the weather for everything, especially for rice shortage in Laos. Don't forget that most farmers in Vientiane for example have sold their farms/rice fields to buy cars and mobile phones whilst many have filled in their farms/rice fields and built villas instead. You may have noticed (if you have been back to Vientiane at all) that there are hardly any rice field left to see these days. Shame! llX wrote on 7th Feb, 2011 at 6:43am: Rice shortages widespread in Laos http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Rice.htm While Laos is normally able to produce enough rice to meet national demand, 56 districts out of the total 143 have failed to grow the rice they need for local consumption, a minister has said. Low rainfall and flooding have been the main reasons why Laos has failed on occasion to meet its rice production targets, Mr Sitaheng told the president. Some 40,000 tonnes of rice have been lost each year for the past five years due to extreme weather events, resulting in losses of 400 billion kip.

i guess many of the population is gonna starve to death, i think that as the lao population modernize less rice will be consumed assuming this modern population has mcdonalds and kfc's to eat lolz when droughts or lack of rain or just poor weather happens in laos the farmers should learn to be smarter by planting potatoes or other crops that needs little water in order to survive or grow because its a huge security risk if they solely depend on rice.

Good point. I think KFC and McDonald will be a big hit in Laos with young people. They also have $1, $2 meals. I'm don't eat them all the time though. I'm in my 30 and prefer stcky rice, laap and papaya salad. All the good Lao food and BeerLao.
8-)


longhang wrote on 9^th Feb, 2011 at 10:53pm:

i guess many of the population is gonna starve to death, i think that as the lao population modernize less rice will be consumed assuming this modern population has mcdonalds and kfc's to eat lolz when droughts or lack of rain or just poor weather happens in laos the farmers should learn to be smarter by planting potatoes or other crops that needs little water in order to survive or grow because its a huge security risk if they solely depend on rice.

LDR, I am not a Laotian but volunteering a month in Luang Prabang have made me miss sticky rice and papaya salad with BeerLao terribly. So, I totally agree with you. Can't freaking find Laos' terrific food anywhere in this frozen tundra we call the Northeastern US. :'(

BTW, I love Laos and its people. And this news about its rice shortfall is a very sad news indeed. I hope that it will be fixed in time.

llX wrote on 10^th Feb, 2011 at 2:31am:

Good point. I think KFC and McDonald will be a big hit in Laos with young people. They also have $1, $2 meals. I'm don't eat them all the time though. I'm in my 30 and prefer stcky rice, laap and papaya salad. All the good Lao food and BeerLao. 8-) longhang wrote on 9th Feb, 2011 at 10:53pm: i guess many of the population is gonna starve to death, i think that as the lao population modernize less rice will be consumed assuming this modern population has mcdonalds and kfc's to eat lolz when droughts or lack of rain or just poor weather happens in laos the farmers should learn to be smarter by planting potatoes or other crops that needs little water in order to survive or grow because its a huge security risk if they solely depend on rice.

Someone is holding on to the old rice stock and waiting to sell them in the higher price... "Someone hardship is someone fortune" This is life!