Trends and perceptions of rural household groundwater use and the implications for smallholder agriculture in rain-fed Southern Laos

In Laos, the extent of rural groundwater use is largely unknown. This paper presents results of a study conducted in Champasak province, Southern Laos, to examine rural household attitudes to groundwater use and management; and to gauge farmer perceptions of the opportunities/constraints of increase...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of water resources development 2015-10, Vol.31 (4), p.558-574
Main Authors: Vote, Camilla, Newby, Jonathan, Phouyyavong, Khamphou, Inthavong, Thavone, Eberbach, Philip
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
groundwater use
Laos
perceptions
smallholder agriculture
water resources development
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Summary:In Laos, the extent of rural groundwater use is largely unknown. This paper presents results of a study conducted in Champasak province, Southern Laos, to examine rural household attitudes to groundwater use and management; and to gauge farmer perceptions of the opportunities/constraints of increased groundwater use for smallholder agriculture. Significant differences in groundwater use, total cash income and perceived groundwater quality were found. Further agricultural expansion was constrained by insufficient labour and the limited area of individual landholdings, not by the limited groundwater supply, which was the preferred source to fulfil increased demands for domestic/agricultural use. There were no groundwater regulations.
ISSN:0790-0627
1360-0648
DOI:10.1080/07900627.2015.1015071