Impact of cross visits and other factors on farmer decision making and livestock production in four districts

Purpose of studyHow much influence the cross visit had on farmers What other factors influenced farmersThe most important influencesWhat changes they have madeWhat benefits they have hadWhat they plan to do in the futureWhether they have influenced other farmers (eg poor farmers)

Farmer Interview QuestionsName, ethnic group, family members, livestock numbersWhat cross visit did you attend and what did you see?What changes have you made to livestock management in the last 2 years since the cross visit?What influenced you to make these change?Which were the most important influences?What do you plan to do in the future?Have you influenced other farmers?

25 farmers (9 women) in 4 districts of 3 provinces (50% of all farmers attending cross visits in 2007 and 2008). All poor to medium wealth.

Ethnic GroupsLao lum 5 families Hmong 8 familiesKhamu 7 familiesThaideng 4 familiesPhouane 1 families

What changes have the farmers made to livestock management in the last 2 years?1. Improved backyard pasture management

Pasture growing (grasses and stylo)Cut and carry systemRuminant feeding by mixing grasses,stylo and styloPigs and poultry feeding by mixing rice bran ,cassava root and stylo

2. Improved Livestock production

Animals health careAnimals fatteningBreeding selectionImproved animals housing Animals marketing Manure collecting

Family income from livestock changesTotal 257,998,000 kip for all 25 families in last 2 yearsAverage 10,319,920 kip per familyRange (3 to 29 million kip) Expenditure items . Animals . House construction . Hand tractor . Paddy rice stocks . Rice field land . Motor cycle . Furniture . School . Clothes . Medicine

What influenced the farmers to make thesechanges?

Motivation to improve their livelihood Looking at host farmers activities at cross visit Discussing with host farmers and sharing knowledge and experiencesDistrict staff advice on how to do and follow upLao govt. policy to reduce SC and povertyTraining Coursesand other projectsFamily relatives and friends

Farmer ideas and ongoing learning

Feed formula for pigs and poultry (stylo, grasses and cassava root)Vaccination, antibiotic treatment and parasite de-worming Improved Cassava mill machine New slicing equipment for cutting grasses, stylo and cassava

Activities planned in the future

Increasing pasture areas and feeding systemIncreasing the animal numbers and managementIncreasing family income and reduce povertyExpanding the new technologies to new farmers

Level of influence on other farmers100 other farmers have used advice and examples from these farmersSome farmers are more active than othersTwo poor farmers interviewed had been influenced by cousins that had attended the cross visits.Some poor farmers can learn from medium wealth farmers

ConclusionsCross visits can stimulate farmer motivation to improve their livestock production and reduce shifting cultivation.District staff need to follow up with regular advice.Poor families can learn from medium wealth families, especially if relative or friends.Farmers need follow up training courses to keep learning about livestock management. Design learning activities for poor families, women and each ethnic group separately.

Thank you