Lao PDR

Lao PDR
Author: Asian Development Bank
Publisher: Asian Development Bank
Total Pages: 314
Release: 2017-11-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9292579940

The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has shown remarkable progress by consistently building itself into a market-oriented economy, with economic growth in 1986-2016 averaging around 6.5% per annum. The rapid and sustained growth brought about changes in the structure of output, but did not alter job composition: resource-based products still dominate in industry, low value-added jobs in services, and 65% of the labor force in agriculture. This country diagnostic study provides comprehensive analysis and identifies promising new drivers of growth which the Lao PDR can develop to diversify its production structure and speed up structural transformation.

Shared Prosperity

Shared Prosperity
Author: Maurizio Bussolo
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 111
Release: 2014-04-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464802300

The World Bank has recently defined two strategic goals: ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. Shared prosperity is measured as income growth among the bottom 40 percent of the income distribution in the population. The two goals should be achieved in a way that is sustainable from economic, social, and environmental perspectives. Shared Prosperity: Paving the Way in Europe and Central Asia focuses on the second goal and proposes a framework that integrates both macroeconomic and microeconomic elements. The macro variables, particularly changes in relative prices, affect income growth differentially along the income distribution; at the same time, the microeconomic distribution of assets at the bottom of the distribution determines the capacity of the bottom 40 to take advantage of the macroeconomic environment and contribute to overall growth. Growth and the incidence of growth are thus understood as jointly determined processes. Besides this integration, the main input of the framework is the finding that the trade-off between growth and equity may be an issue only in the short run. Over the long run, redistribution policies that increase the productive capacity of the bottom 40 percent enhance the overall growth potential of the economy. This report considers shared prosperity in Europe and Central Asia and concludes that the performance in sharing prosperity during the period 2000–10 was good, on average, but heterogeneous across countries and that sustainability is unclear. It also describes examples of the application of the framework to selected countries in the region. Finally, the report provides a tool to structure the policy discussion around the goal of shared prosperity and explains that specific policy links associated with the goal can be established only after a thorough analysis of the country-specific context.

Smallholder Tree Growing for Rural Development and Environmental Services

Smallholder Tree Growing for Rural Development and Environmental Services
Author: Denyse J. Snelder
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 498
Release: 2008-07-19
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1402082614

Recent history reveals that both the large-scale reforestation projects of the 20th century have often been less successful than anticipated, and that tree growing by smallholders – as an alternative means to combat deforestation and promote sustainable land use – has received relatively little attention from the scientific and development communities. Taking a first step to addressing that balance, this collection of peer-reviewed papers adopts a comparative approach to explore the potential role that tree growing by farmers can play in sustainable forest management. The goal of this approach is to identify common threads and to start to develop a framework for future research and practice. Presenting case studies from the Philippines and comparative data from a number of Asian countries the book reveals that farmer tree growing has the potential to play a significant role in sustainable forest management, and discusses the surrounding issues which must be addressed in order to realise this potential. The book is primarily aimed at research scientists and graduate students interested in relevant aspects of forestry, agroforestry, agricultural diversity, natural resource management and conservation in agricultural landscapes, as well as those involved in sustainable development and international development studies. It will also provide a valuable reference for professionals, managers, consultants, policy makers and planners dealing with issues in sustainable development, natural resource management, land use change issues and participatory approaches to resource management.

Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Rural Development Sector Assessment, Strategy, and Road Map

Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Rural Development Sector Assessment, Strategy, and Road Map
Author: Asian Development Bank
Publisher: Asian Development Bank
Total Pages: 83
Release: 2018-12-01
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9292614657

This publication explains the evaluation and strategic investment priorities of the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the agriculture, natural resources, and rural development sector. It highlights sector performance, priority development constraints, government plans and strategy, other development partner support, and ADB's past experience and future sector strategy. The country partnership strategy of ADB is also discussed and updated as strategic developments and program changes occur. Other background information about the sector for ADB's investment and technical assistance operations are also provided.

Harnessing Uzbekistan’s Potential of Urbanization

Harnessing Uzbekistan’s Potential of Urbanization
Author: Asian Development Bank
Publisher: Asian Development Bank
Total Pages: 192
Release: 2021-09-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9292690329

The National Urban Assessment for Uzbekistan examines the progress of urbanization and the development and current state of government policies and programs in the country. It recommends various pathways to sustainable urbanization, including reforms in urban planning. Particular focus is given on economy, equity, environmental quality, and climate change as well as enhancing the quality and reliability of urban services and increasing the supply of affordable housing, among others. The report is also a useful guide for strategic investment planning across key urban infrastructure sectors in Uzbekistan.

White Gold: The Commercialisation of Rice Farming in the Lower Mekong Basin

White Gold: The Commercialisation of Rice Farming in the Lower Mekong Basin
Author: Rob Cramb
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 462
Release: 2020-01-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9811509980

This open access book is about understanding the processes involved in the transformation of smallholder rice farming in the Lower Mekong Basin from a low-yielding subsistence activity to one producing the surpluses needed for national self-sufficiency and a high-value export industry. For centuries, farmers in the Basin have regarded rice as “white gold”, reflecting its centrality to their food security and well-being. In the past four decades, rice has also become a commercial crop of great importance to Mekong farmers, augmenting but not replacing its role in securing their subsistence. This book is based on collaborative research to (a) compare the current situation and trajectories of rice farmers within and between different regions of the Lower Mekong, (b) explore the value chains linking rice farmers with new technologies and input and output markets within and across national borders, and (c) understand the changing role of government policies in facilitating the on-going evolution of commercial rice farming. An introductory section places the research in geographical and historical context. Four major sections deal in turn with studies of rice farming, value chains, and policies in Northeast Thailand, Central Laos, Southeastern Cambodia, and the Mekong Delta. The final section examines the implications for rice policy in the region as a whole.

FAO Policy on Gender Equality

FAO Policy on Gender Equality
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
Total Pages: 32
Release: 2013
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

"The FAO Policy on Gender Equality provides a framework that guides the Organization's efforts to achieve gender equality in all its technical work and assesses results. The policy outlines FAO's goal and objectives related to gender equality and delineates an accountability structure for ensuring policy oversight and achievement of results."--Publisher's description.

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Lao People's Democratic Republic
Author: Paavo Eliste
Publisher: Fao
Total Pages: 184
Release: 2012
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

"The results of this study confirm the continuing structural transformation of the Lao rice sector which started a decade ago. To some extent, the sector transformations being led by inter related factors not strictly related to government rice sector policies, including: (i) continued GDP growth led by mineral and hydropower exports; (ii) increasing job opportunities in the non-tradable, non-agricultural sector, and in neighboring countries, associated with increasing incomes; (iii) increasing shortages of farm labour and an ageing farm population; (iv) increasing urbanization and related changes in food consumption patterns; and (v) stabilization of aggregate national rice consumption as a result of a declining population growth rate and gradual diversification of diets away from rice as a source of calories. Furthermore, emergence of new private sector driven export crops. The current situation, which decouples rice sector-related government policies between farm and post-farm, each governed by different sector line ministries, may no longer be efficient. The growth in the number of commercially-oriented rice farmers as shown by the 2010 agriculture census data means that investments in further productivity improvements need to be well articulated with measures to sustain a sound market environment and this has trade policy implications."--Publisher's description.