RAP publication 2003/11

The Role and Nutritional Value of Aquatic Resources in the Livelihoods of Rural People

A Participatory Assessment in Attapeu Province, Lao PDR

A contribution to the
Dialogue on Water, Food and the Environment

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

and

IUCN - the World Conservation Union

Eric Meusch
Jintana Yhoung-Aree
Richard Friend
Simon Funge-Smith

 
Table of Contents
   
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Bangkok, Thailand

DISCLAIMER

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations or the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) or IUCN - the World Conservation Union, concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers of boundaries.

PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

As a joint initiative to investigate the relationships between living aquatic resources, rice agriculture and the livelihoods of the people who manage these systems, this document is a contribution to the Dialogue on Water, Food and the Environment by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and IUCN - the World Conservation Union (IUCN). This document isbasedupon a field report prepared by Eric Meusch and Jintana Yhoung-Aree with additional authorship and technical editing by Richard Friend (IUCN) and Simon Funge-Smith (FAO).

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for educational or other non-commercial purposes are authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of material in this information product for sale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holders. Application for such permission should be addressed to: The Aquaculture Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and Pacific, Maliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Athit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.

Cover photo by Eric Meusch

© FAO and IUCN 2003

For Copies please write to:The Aquaculture Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and Pacific, Maliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Athit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.


Table of Contents

Abstract

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Objectives

HEALTH, NUTRITION AND AQUATIC RESOURCES

Approach

PARTICIPATORY ASSESSMENT
SITE SELECTION
DISAGGREGATION OF RESULTS
SPECIES IDENTIFICATION
TRIANGULATION

Findings

ATTAPEU PROVINCE
PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
VILLAGE OVERVIEWS

Tamoyot Village
Saisi Village
Gayeu Village

LOCAL LIVELIHOODS

Status of health and nutrition

HOUSEHOLD FOOD ACQUISITION: DIVERSITY, CERTAINTY AND QUANTITY

Staple foods
Animals and animal products
Non-staple plant foods
Fats and oils
Fruits
Iodine rich food sources

DIETARY HABITS
FOOD BELIEFS AND PRACTICES DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION
HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS

Availability and importance of aquatic resources

AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS

Rivers and perennial streams
Perennial ponds, marshes and oxbows
Rice fields, seasonal ponds and seasonal streams

ACCESSING AQUATIC RESOURCES

Seasonality of aquatic resources
Species diversity
Historical trends in aquatic resources access and use

PROMOTING RICE PRODUCTION

Water, food and the environment

INTEGRATED APPROACH - RICE AND FISH
PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS
STEWARDSHIP
HEALTH, NUTRITION AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION

References

Annexes

Annex 1a: Frequency distribution of selected food items in Gayeu and Saisi households
Annex 1b: Diversity of foods by food groups and number of households