The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) is located in the center of Indochina. It has an eastern border with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a northern border with the People's Republic of China, a north-western border with the Union of Myanmar, a western border with the Kingdom of Thailand and a southern border with the Kingdom of Cambodia. Laos has an area of 236,800 square Kilometres. Around 70% of its terrain is mountainous, reaching a maximum elevation of 2,820 m in Xieng Khouang province. The landscapes of northern Laos and the regions adjacent to Vietnam in particular are dominated by hills. The Mekong River is the main geographical feature in the west. The Mekong flows through 1,865 km of Laos territory and shapes much of the lifestyle of the people of Laos. Laos has a total population of 5.2 million (1999), with an average annual growth rate of 2.4 percent. (Source: the Laos Embassy in Thailand)

Agriculture in Laos continues to be considered the spearhead of the economy, contributing approximately 52% of GDP, as compared to industry and service sectors that have a GDP of about 20.8% and 24.7% respectively (1997). Agriculture also contributes a significant share of officially recorded foreign exchange earnings (about 40%), and it provides the main source of cash income for about 85% of the national labor force.

As in most developing countries, agriculture in Laos is still characterized primarily by a subsistence form of farm production with, traditionally, rice as the staple food. The national food production program continues to focus, primarily, on boosting rice production in parallel with ensuring adequate supplies of plant and animal protein so as to ensure rice self-sufficiency and food security for both the urban and rural areas.

Rice is the staple foodstuff for Lao people of all ethnic groups. Paddy rice is produced in Laos through the use of lowland farming techniques, while upland rice is produced under a slash and burn cultivation system. In 1997, rainfed lowland areas covered about 421,000 ha (equivalent to 67% of the total area available for rice production) and accounted for an annual paddy production of about 1.3 million tons. A further 114,000 tons was produced on 26,700 ha under irrigation in the dry season. Rainfed upland rice was cultivated on an area of about 153,000 ha, producing only 247,000 tons of paddy per annum.

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