Lao People's Democratic Republic
Lao People's Democratic Republic - 3.5 Food and Additional Suppliers
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Food and Additional Suppliers 

Rice continues to be the key staple food and the most important crop in Laos, covering about 60% of the total cultivated areas. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas, continues to account for 16% of the country’s total gross national product (GDP) and approximately 60% of the employed population works in the agricultural sector. More than 3 million tonnages were harvested in 2021/22.  

Nationally, Laos has achieved food self-sufficiency, however, there still exists food insecurity situation owning to multiple factors, including high food, fuel, and agricultural input prices. As a generalization, approximately 1.04 million people (13.9%) are estimated to be moderately acute food insecure and 71,000 people (0.9%) are recorded as being severely acute food insecure.  

Consumption of food items derived from own production remains the single most important source of food at household levels. Rice is mainly consumed. Laos’ per capita rice consumption is among the highest in the world at around 160 kg/year. Most Lao prefer to eat glutinous rice over other rice varieties, and almost all of the glutinous rice produced in Laos is used for domestic consumption. The stable food is supplemented by commonly grown vegetables including chilli, spring onion, garlic, mints, Asian leafy, lettuce, long bean, cucumber, eggplant, and cabbage.  

Farming systems are rice-based, and diversification in Laos depends on the ability of farming households to maintain rice security. When this is achieved, resources are released for plantation, and cultivation of non-subsistence cash crops including commercial rice, maize, coffee, bananas, sugarcane and cassava which are key export products to China, Thailand and Vietnam. 

The livestock sector contributes to about 20% of the agricultural GDP. Buffaloes, cattle, poultry, and pigs are the main livestock species and are mostly raised in the free-range husbandry systems. Livestock products function as unofficial bank savings generating valuable cash income for the rural population. The fishery is one of the main sources of income and allows diet diversification for the rural population. Natural rivers and water reservoirs are the habitats of many freshwater fish species. There are several types of aquacultures in the country, including cage culture with cages made of steel frames, bamboo, net or wood; rice-fish culture in irrigated areas; pond culture in small ponds created in rural lowland areas and used just to cover family requirements. 

Aside from food and agricultural products, the most significant services that Laos exports include personal travel and transportation services, computer and information services, insurance services, and construction services. Personal travel and transportation services are also among the most important services.   

Generic country information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For a general overview of country data related to the service and supply sectors, please consult the following sources: 

The Observatory of Economic Complexity – MIT (OEC): (http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/)  

https://oec.world/en/profile/country/lao 

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.  

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider. 

 

 

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