Gender and Aquaculture in Lao PDR: A synthesis of a socio-economic and gender analysis 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 analysis 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 traditional 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 produced. However there are high labour and financial 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 management and for 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. Existing 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.