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REPORT ON VILLAGE SELECTION FOR PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT AND UPSCALING IN VIENGXAY AND
SOPBAO DISTRICTS, HOUAPHAN PROVINCE
MARCH 24TH–APRIL 4 TH 2008
BY
Souvanpheng PHOMMASANE Ekkasit PATHAMMAVONG
Sith SOUKCHALEUNPHONE Manichanh VORABUTH
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TABLE OF CONTENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT....................................II
ABBREVIATIONS.....................................III
VIENGXAY DISTRICT POPULATION PROFILE...............IV
SOPBAO DISTRICT POPULATION PROFILE.................IV
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...................................V
1.1 Viengxay and Sopbao District Profile 2 1.1.1 Viengxay District Profile ...................2 1.1.2 Sopbao District Profile .....................4 1.2.1 Objective ...................................6 1.2.2 Research method .............................6
1.2 Village Selection and Criteria 8
2. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS....................9
2.1 Research findings 9 2.1.1 Village selection in Viengxay and Sopbao districts .........................................9 2.1.2 Major constraints for product development and upscaling ........................................11
2.2 Recommendations 17
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The team wishes to give special thanks to Houaphan provincial Department of
Industry and Commerce for their coordination, technical support staff and working venue during the study. Also, special thanks to the provincial office of
the Governor, Department of Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Forestry, Water and Environmental Resource Office for their useful feedbacks and recommendations during the team’s debriefing workshop.
Also, the team would like to acknowledge great inputs and active participation of
technical staff from Viengxay and Sopbao District DoIC, DAFO, DPI and District Administrative Office for their assistance in the development of village selection criteria as well as arranging and participating in village meetings with villagers
and village authorities. Importantly, the work by Miss. Manichanh Vorabuth forestry technical staff from NAFREC is much appreciated by the SNV team of
advisors. Finally, frank and open discussions and experiences sharing by villagers and
village authorities provided the team with access to the very crucial information necessary for critical analysis and making appropriate recommendations. With
their support, it gives the team an indication of hope and commitment that the issues highlighted and recommendations made will be brought up further.
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ABBREVIATIONS
ADB Asia Development Bank CMIP Community Managed Integrated Project
DAFO District Agriculture and Forestry Office DOIC Department of Industry and Commerce
DCTPC Department of Transport Post and Construction DPI Department of Planning and Investment DPTP Department of Production and Trade Promotion
EDC Enterprise & Development Consultants GDP Gross Domestic Product
GDG Gender Development Group HH Household HP Houa Phan Province
LWU Lao Women Union LMA Land Management Administrative
NTFP Non-Timber Forest Product NAFREC North Agriculture Forestry Research Centre NUOL National University of Laos
NRM Natural Resource Management MAF Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
MIS Market Information System RECOFTC Regional Community Forestry Training Center SNV Netherlands Development Organization
SMEPDO Small and Medium Enterprise Development Office OHK Oxfam Hong Kong
POG Provincial Office of the Governor PAFO Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office PI Prosperity Initiative
PRF Poverty Reduction Fund UNICEF United Nation Children and Education Fund
XK Xiengkhouang VDF Village Development Fund VX Viengxay
VFI Village Focus International VCD Value Chain Development
WEO Water and Environmental Office
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TABLES AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Viengxay district map 7
Viengxay Ethnic composition 7 Viengxay district population profile 8
% of poor vs. not poor villages in Viengxay district 8 Sopbao district map 9 Sopbao Ethnic composition 9
Sopbao district population profile 10 % of poor vs. not poor families in Sopbao district 10
Table 1: a list of short listed villages for further field visit and in-dept data gathering
Table 2: details of three villages fitting the proposed criteria
v
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Alleviating the country’s poverty by 2020 is one the overarching goal of the Lao
government. Agricultural production and industrial development have been identified by the government as a critical element for income generation and
economic growth. Despite richness in natural resources, maximum valuation of raw materials has not been yet harnessed, partly because of limited capacity, technology, market and investment capital. SNV Lao PDR 2008 Strategy has
made itself clear for its continuing support on NTFP sector in Lao PDR. Currently, the main focus has been putting on bamboo, rattan and paper
mulberry. SNV applies Value Chain Development, or VCD, approach with the aim to maximize benefits of all actors in a more power balanced, fair and harmonized relationship. As such, it is believed that bamboo producers in
particular will be benefited from having increased bargaining power and a say over decisions affecting them, better deal and fair share the business which
could mean increasing the level of income and employment.
Following the completion of a recent study on Houaphan Bamboo Value Chain Analysis: Identifying SNV’s Potential Advisory Services for the Development of
the Bamboo Value Chain by Martin Greijmans et al. (November, 2007), this scoping study was identified as another crucial follow up step which has two
main objectives: (i) to select villages having potential for further product development and up-scaling, and (ii) to identify major constraints and come up with some possible intervention strategies. In short the study and presented
results aim at assisting SNV and future clients to make informed and justified choices in the further development of the bamboo sector support program in
Houaphan Province, and specific in selected pilot villages. A team of SNV advisors in the area of NTFP/Marketing, SME and Governance for
Empowerment was fielded and teamed up with a technical officers of NAFREC and a technical staff from Houaphan provincial Department of Industry and
Commerce. Due to time constraint, the team decided to initially focus on Viengxay and Sopbao districts with possible later study in Xiengkhor district.
By working closely with designated technical staff from Viengxay and Sopbao district DOIC, DAFO, DPI and administrative offices, 11 initial criteria were
formulated for village short listing for further in-dept study. Based on such criteria, 13 villages from Viengxay district and 5 villages from Sopbao district
were selected for further field visit and in-dept data gathering. Through interviews, using prepared questionnaires, village meetings with relevant stakeholders and referring back to the above mentioned criteria, 3 villages
(Phounsane village from Viengxay district and Nagnom and Kanghao villages from Sopbao district) were finally recommended by the team as having
potentials for further product development and up-scaling due to having sufficient resources, existing knowledge and skills, market and importantly the interest and willingness of both local villagers and authorities such as DoIC and
DAFO in supporting bamboo producers to improve production and marketing.
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The team’s anticipations for impact on income and employment are that: (i) by promoting handicraft making, an increase of 50% of income over the next
three years and a record of minimum 1,366 people to be employed are expected, and/or (ii) by promoting industry such as pulp and chop stick factories, an increase of 100% of income over the next three years and an
employment figure at 20,000 to 30,000 people are anticipated.
Major constraints for further product development and up-scaling were also identified, namely resource, technology and product development, access to market, organization and management, policy and regulation, access to finance
and infrastructure. Specific issues given high priority for further attention are:
� Limited access to information on quality, price, volume and market demand.
� Limited knowledge of and access to the new markets. � High cost of transportation. � Limited or no specialized organizational structures on village level.
� Lack skills such as product design and development. � Unsustainable use of existing resources leading to a decrease of bamboo
resource. � Non-enabling business environment (regulations, fees and tax) � Lack of long term vision or operational strategies concerning bamboo
exploitation and development of the bamboo sector with responsible public agencies
� Limited collaboration between province, district and Khum-Ban authorities.
Identification of intervention areas should be considered in close collaboration with future counterparts and clients in the concerned province / districts and
villages. Referring to constraints identified many areas could be possibly addressed. In formulating intervention areas the following should be taken into account:
- present situation as encountered in the field including present level of
capacity of potential implementers - capacity of SNV to assist the intervention process and added value of SNV
in this process
- scope and reach of interventions (impact) in terms of pro-poor development and improving governance mechanisms.
In any way the current situation encountered and described in the report calls for a multi-actor approach as successfully addressing above mentioned
constraints in the sector requires active collaboration of public, private and civil society sector. As the latter is not developed yet, an effort to initiate and
strengthen village level organizations, representing beneficiaries at this level is seen as crucial to any intervention process.
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1. INTRODUCTION
The value chain development is considered a major vehicle to achieving impact in selected sub-sectors.
SNV, Netherlands Development Organization aims to support local entrepreneur strengthening their performance to effectively poverty reduction and good
governance. Strong local governance, private sector and society will lead to play the crucial role in the sustainable poverty alleviation. They are voice and
advocate of the poor people in rural areas and they are also implementing the national policies of the government.
SNV wish to strengthen to clients’ ability to help communities improve their capacity to generate income and influence way of the good governance. Beside
that SNV will focusing to help the local governance who still lack of ability and skill in term of the commercial market.
Objective of the short study was conducted in the two districts are Viengxay and Sobbao, Huaphan province to explore the potential successful villages for up
scaling, study the constraints/opportunities and select villages for supporting bamboo value chain development as a means to alleviate poverty in Huaphan province in general, specific in two poorest districts. This study was
implemented by a small taskforce of SNV advisors and working by participatory closely with technical staff of NAFREC, DOIC, PAFO provincial level and district
level of Huaphan province to discussion and set up the action plan for the field study on 24 March to 4 April 2008.
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1.1 Viengxay and Sopbao District Profile
1.1.1 Viengxay District Profile
Geographically, Viengxay district shares its borders with Xamneua district
on the South and Vietnam and Sopbao district on the East, while both the North and the West are connected to Xamneua and Ad districts.
The district has a sub-tropical climate, surrounded by mountains and forest as well as green grass appropriate for animal husbandry. The
district has authentic scenery suitable for natural and historical tourism development.
The district has a total population number of 35,741 people; with 130 villages and an overall of 13 Khumban(s). The district has three main
ethnic groups: (i) Lao Loum, with a total population number of 26,653 people, of this 13,531 are women, (ii) Hmong 4,778 people, of this 2,338 female and (iii) Khmu and Yao, with a total population number of 4,143
people, including 1,539 women.
Viengxay District Map (by Lao-EU Malaria Control Project 2002) District ethnic composition
(source: District Administrative Office, 2008)
In terms of infrastructure, Viengxay district has basic infrastructure neccessary for development, such as roads, electricity, irrigation, schools
and hospitals. There should be noted that many of the villages visited by the team use small householder electric generator, in particular Khumban Soey. Gravity fed water supply and the use of latrine were found in all
(though varied by the percentage) villages visited by the team.
The avarage rate of children attending school is 96.3%. The overall
access to clean water and pit has been increasing substantially. Infrastructure support have been noticed in many villages visited,
commonly PRF (irrigation, school and road construction, including inputs into rice bank and saving group establishment), UNICEF (school construction), ADB (Basic Girls Education project), Menonite (Rice mill)
and CMI (community managed irrigation project). Apart from Phounesarn, Phoune-Neuar and Phoune-Karng villages, the rest of the
villages visited have no access to mobile phone frequency.
Ethnic composition
26,653 (75%)
4,778 (13%)
4,143 (12%)
Lao Loum
Hmong
Khmu and Yao
Ethnic composition
26,653 (75%)
4,778 (13%)
4,143 (12%)
Lao Loum
Hmong
Khmu and Yao
3
In terms of the livelihoods, Viengxay is classified as one of the poorest
districts in Huaphan province as well as being listed as one of the 47 country’s poorest districts. The district has a total number of 2,938 poor families in 79 villages, or an equal number of 22,491 people. Of this,
there are 10,953 women (Viengxay District Administrative Office, March 2008).
According to the district annual report, the district GDP in 2004 was 49.2 billion Kip, with an average income per capita at 1,370,000 Kip per year.
GDP in 2007 was 48.5 billion Kip, or an equal amount of 2,348,621 Kip per capita per year. With reference to the District Plan, the district has set a target for GDP in 2009 at 98.6 billion Kip, or slightly doubled of the
2004 record, and earmarked to accomplish the level of income per capita at 2,500,00 Kip per year by 2009.
Tourism, subsistence farming and NTFP collection appear to be the major source of people’s income, while fed corn production is increasingly becoming another important source of income of the district economy.
Due to limited low land area for low-land rice farming, shifting cultivation (mainly upland rice, cassava and fed corn) is still common in many
villages, with potential to increase.
Specifically, major district agricultural exported produce include local rice (named Khao-Kai-Noi), cattle (cows and buffalos), grains, silks and local
tea (called Jae, from Karng district).
Source: District Administrative Office, 2008.
District Population Profile
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
Total Poor
Nu
mb
er o
f p
eop
le
Population
No.of Women
District Population Profile
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
Total Poor
Nu
mb
er o
f p
eop
le
Population
No.of Women
No.of village
Not poor: 51 (39%)
Poor: 79 (61%)
Total: 130 (100%)
Total
Not poor
Poor
No.of village
Not poor: 51 (39%)
Poor: 79 (61%)
Total: 130 (100%)
Total
Not poor
Poor
4
1.1.2 Sopbao District Profile
Geographically, Sopbao district locates on the Southern part of Houaphan province approximately 82 Km from Xamneua district. The district is situated economically strategic to the Republic of Vietnam and Xiengkhor
district on the North, while connecting to Viengxay district on the South. Sharing border with Vietnam is also found on the East, while still
connecting to Viengxay district on the West.
Similar to Viengxay district, Sopbao has sub-tropical climate, surrounded by mountains and forest as well as green grass appropriate for animal husbandry and rice farming. Due to having wide scale of low-land rice
farming area and access to irrigation, the district has produced sufficient rice and able to sell parts of the surplus to nearby districts such as
Viengxay and Xiengkhor , including Vietnam. Record in rice production in 2007 was 9,550.2 tones, or an average of 368 Kg per person per year (Sopbao DAFO annual report, Dec. 2007).
The district has a total population number of 25,922 people, of this
12,885 are female. Sopbao comprises of 68 villages which are divided into six Khumban(s). Major district ethnic groups covers: (i) Lao Lum 17,671 people including 8,748 women, (ii) Khmu 1,083 people, of this
558 are female and (iii) Hmong 7,335 people, including 3,702 women.
Sopbao District Map (by Lao-EU Malaria Control Project 2002) Source: Sopbao District DPI (March, 2008)
In terms of infrastructure, nearly 70% of the villages have access to dirt
road, accessible both dry and rainy seasons, while the rest can only be accessed in dry season (Sopbao district DPI report, January 2008). Nearly 90% of all villages have school and all villages have access to health
services. Still, nearly one fourth of the villages need improved access to clean water supply. It is observed that most of the villages visited by the
team have access to electricity and latrine, despite limited access to mobile telephone frequency of certain companies.
Major supporters of the district’s development projects include PRF (school, gravity fed water supply and health centre constructions,
Ethnic composition
Khmu: 1,083 (4%)
Hmong: 7,335 (28%)
Lao Lum: 17,671 ( 68%)
Ethnic composition
Khmu: 1,083 (4%)
Hmong: 7,335 (28%)
Lao Lum: 17,671 ( 68%)
5
including setting up village saving groups), CMI (road and irrigation constructions) and ADB (Basic girls education project).
In terms of the livelihoods, Sopbao district has a total population number of 25,992 people, including 12,885 women. 36.8% (or 1,542 families) of
the total 4,190 families in the district are considered as poor. Putting into figure, there are 9,413 poor people, including 4,570 women.
The district GDP record in 2006/07 was 51.8 billion Kip, or an equal amount of 2,001,925 Kip per capita per year. Sopbao district has planed
to achieve the level of GDP at 67.928 billion Kip by 2009, or an average of 2,620,000 Kip per capita per year by 2009. The major source of
people’s income comes from rice farming (mainly low-land rice farming) and cattle like cows and buffalos, including crass crops like soybeans,
cassava, garlic, onions and vegetables. Fed corn and cattles are the major district export products of the district. In many villages visited, fed corn production is becoming increasingly interested by more and more
villagers who are now engaging in contract farming (only some villages like Ban Nayom) arrangement largely with Vietnamese collectors.
Furthermore, it was noticed that a number of women in most of the villages visited by the team had earned extra money from weaving activity and NTFP collection.
Source: Sopbao DPI Office (2008)
District Population Profile
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
Total Women
Nu
mb
er o
f p
eop
le
Population
No.of women
District Population Profile
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
Total Women
Nu
mb
er o
f p
eop
le
Population
No.of women
Number of families
Poor: 1,542 (36.8%)
Not poor: 2,648 ( 63.2%)
Total: 4,190 (100%)
Total no. of families
Poor families
Not poor families
Number of families
Poor: 1,542 (36.8%)
Not poor: 2,648 ( 63.2%)
Total: 4,190 (100%)
Total no. of families
Poor families
Not poor families
6
1.2 Objective and research method
1.2.1 Objective
The primary objective of this study is to build on a previous study by
Martin Greijman et al. done in November 2007. The primary objectives of this study as indicated in the TOR (see Annex 1) are:
� Identifying villages having potential for further product development and up-scaling.
� Defining specific constraints to the development of the selected
villages.
� Making recommendations on possible strategies and connected
interventions to ensure successful intervention.
In addition, governance related issues such as power relation and
constraints to inclusiveness will be also analyzed and incorporated into the recommendations.
1.2.2 Research method
The team applied participatory and multi-stakeholder consultation research approach with government officials and communities. Six major
steps were undertaken as outline in the followings:
Step 1: Literature review on existing data, such as:
o Final report “Laos Report Mapping and Farmer Input Market
Studies of Vietnam-Laos done by NUOL, 2005
o Analysis of Sample Value chains and Bamboo Processing Enterprises in Laos done By EDC in 2005.
o Report on a Programme Design for integrated Upland livelihoods in Viengxay and Xiengkhor District by Oxfarm Hong Kong (not
specify year).
o Report on Baseline Study on the Current Status of Poverty and
Bamboo Markets in Xamtai, Viengxay and Xiengkhor Districts in 2007.
Step 2: Organize meetings with key persons of the relevant stakeholders, such as: provincial department and district office of industry and
commerce and agriculture and forestry. District administrative office and District Planning Office were also included.
7
At village level, Head of Khum-Ban and village chief together with their villagers and village management assistants were also took part in our
field visit and indept-data gathering process. See Annex 2 for working schedule.
Step 3: Developing questionnaires and division of duties among team members (See Annex 3 for the questionnaires).
Step 4: Setting up ‘Village Selection Criteria’ by technical staff from district DAFO, DOIC, DPI and District Administrative Office with assistance
from SNV advisors. This helps to limit scope of the study. See Annex 4 for a list of participants helping to develop the Village Selection Criteria.
Step 5: Conducting field visit and in-dept data gathering process on
Short-listed villages. Refer to Annex 2 for a list of villages visited. Step 6: Organizing a Debriefing workshop with relevant stakeholders on
major findings and to get feedbacks. A list of participants participating in the debriefing workshop and minute are provided in Annex 5 & 6.
Representatives from District Administrative Office, DOIC, DAFO and provincial DOIC provided inputs into
the development of site selection criteriaError! Reference source not found., facilitated by SNV advisors.
Representatives from District Administrative Office, DOIC, DAFO and provincial DOIC discuss and prioritize Kum-ban according to the criteria jointly developed.
Consultation meeting between district staff and village
authority, including villagers both men and women at Doeu village in rice field (Viengxai district).
Debriefing workshop with provincial DOIC, PAFO, DPI, Lands Administrative Office, STEO and OoG.
8
1.2 Village Selection and Criteria
The objective of setting up criteria for site selection is to make informed and justified choices and find consensus for joint and effective further planning. Hence, the study team and involving organizations in province and district such
as DAFO, DOIC, DPI and representative from district administrative office did participatory set up 11 selection criteria. The detail summaries are:
1. sufficient bamboo resource;
2. market availability for bamboo products, either old or new, domestic
or international markets;
3. enabling regulatory environment;
4. knowledge and experience on product developemnt and use of
bamboo;
5. capability to use simple technologies;
6. availability of sufficient labour force and access to finance for
production;
7. preferably located near main road;
8. basic infrastructure: road, electricity and water;
9. interest of community;
10. ownership, participation and commitment from local government
agencies and villagers, and
11. level of poverty of that village.
In order to ease the selection procedure, four criteria are set as pre-conditional: (i) availability of bamboo resources, (ii) poverty level, (iii) ownership,
participation and commitment of local government organizations and villagers towards developing the bamboo sector in a pro-poor way and (iv) feasibility of
pro-poor market opportunities. Hence, other points as raised are merely attention points in further fine tuning
selection and intervention planning.
9
2. Findings and Recommendations
2.1 Research findings
2.1.1 Village selection in Viengxay and Sopbao districts
By working collaboratively with technical staff from Viengxay and Sopbao
district DOIC, DAFO, DPI and representative from District Administrative Offices, 13 villages from three village clusters of Viengxay district and 5
villages from Sopbao village cluster and district were screened and selected for field visit and in-dept data gathering, based on the criteria developed. Details of villages chosen are in the following table.
Table 1: A list of shortlisted villages for further field visit and in-dept study
District Village Cluster Chosen villages for further in-dept study
Phounsane
Phounnuae Namsang Phounkang
Phounmai
Som
Xieng Phoun
Duae
Dant
Kient
Souy
Danxay
Nayang
Viengxay
Souy
Thand
Nayom
Phounxai
Nasang
Nalok
Sopbao
Sopbao
Kanghao
Then the team conducted field visit and in-dept data collection, using prepared questionnaires and village meeting. Details of data collected in
each selected village of the two districts are summarized and presented in Annex 7 & 8.
From such data and taking into account the four pre-conditional criteria, the team finally found out that Phounsane village from Viengxay district
and two villages (Nayom and Kanghao villages) from Sopbao district were able to meet most of the proposed criteria. The following table shows how
these three villages meet the proposed criteria.
10
Table 2: Details of three villages fitting with the proposed criteria
Village selection criteria
Name of the village
sufficient
bamboo
resource
market
availability for
bamboo
products, either
old or new, domestic or
international
enabling
regulatory
environment
knowledge and
experience on
product
developemnt
and use of bamboo
capability to
use simple
technologies
availability of
labours and
access to
finance for
production
preferably
located near
main road, but
not necessary
basic
infrastructure:
road, electricity
and water
interest of
community
ownership and
participation of
local
government
agencies
poor village Remarks
Phounsane,
Vienxay
district
Yes: 800 ha.
(Mai Kuane,
Mai Luang, Mai Hiea)
• Yes, mainly
local market:
wall mats (90%), baskets.
• Not yet inter-
national market.
• Yes,
provincial
and district policy
support.
• Quite
extensive
experience in collecting
and
processing
bamboo.
Yes (and
interest in new
simple technology, i.e.
drying,
strapping
equipment)
Yes, i.e. village
revolving fund.
Yes, link to
Vietnamese
border/Namaoe check point.
Yes Highly
interested
Yes, i.e. DoIC,
DAFO, District
Administrative Office, Head of
Khum-ban.
A total of 50
families,
including 3 poor families.
• Not yet
establish
bamboo specific
group, still
having
limited market
information.
• Mainly
buyers approach
the
producers.
Nagnom,
Sopbao
district
Yes: 50 ha.
(Mai Kuane, Mai Hock, Mai
Lai)
• Yes, mainly
domestic market: Rice
baskets, Rice
sorting out (Ka-
Dong), Bag
pack bamboo basket (Ka-
Pee).
• Not yet inter-
national market.
• Yes,
provincial and district policy
support.
• Skillful in
bamboo handicraft
making.
Yes (and
interest in new simple
technology, i.e.
drying,
strapping
equipment)
Yes labour, but
not access to finance (no
village
revolving fund)
Yes, link to
Vietnamese border (via.
Sopbao check
point)
Yes, but limited
access to water
Highly
interested
Yes, i.e. DoIC,
DAFO, District Administrative
Office, Head of
Khum-ban.
A total of 70
families, including 32
poor families.
• Similar to
Phousane, but more
well-known
for their
sticky rice
baskets and rice sorting
baskets.
• Sometimes,
the producers
approach
the market
by themselves.
Kanghao,
Sopbao
district
Yes: 1,000 ha.
(Mai Kuane,
Mai Hock, Mai
Luang, Mai Lai)
• Not yet for domestic
market (only
for self-consumption):
sticky rice box,
basket, etc.
• Not yet inter-national market.
• Yes,
provincial and
district policy
support.
• Existed
handicraft
making skills.
Not much
interested in
new
technology.
Yes labour and
access to
finance (village
revolving fund)
Yes, link to
Vietnamese
border (via.
Sopbao check point)
Yes Highly
interested
Yes, i.e. DoIC,
DAFO, District
Administrative
Office, Head of Khum-ban.
A total of 154
families,
including 7
poor families.
Not yet form
into group, and
having no
market.
11
2.1.2 Major constraints for product development and up-scaling
Through various discussions with relevant agencies, local district and village authorities and local villagers/bamboo producers, key issues for
further product development and up-scaling in these three villages were noted and summarized in the followings:
A. Policy Policy information on where to have bamboo resources was retrieved
through interviews and discussions with the relevant stakeholders, such as the government organizations in Houaphanh province, districts and villagers, (Governor’s Office, Department of Industry and Commerce,
Agriculture and forestry, Planning and investment, Village authorities, and other relevant sections). At present, the province and district still have no
particular law or policies for the management and promotion of the bamboo sector. Current natural resource management and forestry policies do not reflect either the economic potential of bamboo nor
management practices appropriate to particular physical characteristics of bamboo species. Houaphanh province is still not clear on the forest
allocation, cultivation of agricultural area and villagers’ rights in using the existing bamboo resources. See the following information:
• On the provincial level, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry still does not have particular and appropriate policies
for managing and promoting the bamboo sector. However, there is an overall policy under the general MOAF’s policies and
law for implementing and disseminating on district level. Most of factories are under the responsibility of the provincial government and have to follow permissions such as: quota and
allowance of bamboo area or resources usage.
• On the district level, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry
still does not have particular and appropriate policies for managing and promoting the bamboo sector. Most of the policy on resource management is under the supervision of the
province’s regulations and rules. Districts and villages are less involved in managing, monitoring and approving business plans
and investment.
• On the village level, some villages are allocated between villages in using forest. These villages have created their own
regulations and measurements for forest management. At the district level, DAFO is requested to help to make a decision in
signing contracts. These villages still do have an organized village group or association responsible for selling and producing products.
B. Harvesting
Regarding to the interviews and discussions with many level of authorities to villages’ harvesters, in the two districts, we found the constraints that the villagers still lack of knowledge/skills, appropriate technique and tools
to stable harvest bamboo shoots and canes. This causes to lead the
12
bamboo rapidly become poor and decreases. Bamboo poles can be harvested all year round, but because the people are working on
cultivation and agricultural production there is only time from November till February to cut the bamboo poles. But bamboo shoots are harvested from June- to February in each year.
C. Production
Larger bamboo canes or poles are used in processing handicraft and traditional handicraft products for household usage and selling in the local or passing customers. Some villages sell canes or poles to the
Souphaphone Factory and Chaoluan Factory in Viengxay district, both operating under Lao-Vietnamese ownership. They produce semi-
processed products for the Vietnamese market. The bamboo shoots are used in processes as drying and boiling to consume and sell for traders at
Lao-Vietnam Nameo border.
Most of the bamboo processing sectors are focused on producing informal handicraft products and small scale industrial semi-products. They use
basic or out of date technologies and low level machinery skills, and have minimal investment, resulting in less efficiency and effectiveness. They
lack technical skills, and knowledge about the production process and because of limited market demand there is only very small scale commodity production. The two factories don’t provide money and
information to local people or villagers on the techniques of bamboo collection. It is estimated that they only use 15-25% of the bamboo
canes.
Chaolouan Factory, for instance, bought raw bamboo (cut and
weight in Kg) from local villagers. An interview with their staff
was that only 25% of the raw materials were processed and
the rest were simply left as a waste. In this case, the waste
was remained parts of the shoot such as node and fiber.
According to the team expert, factories in Vietnam can make
use up to 95% of raw materials. The team concluded that a
lack of proper technologies and limited know-how were the
major contributing factors hindering the factory processing
efficiency and earning extra income.
Similar incidence was also found in
Viengxay district with Chop/tooth
stick factory which made no use of
the remained parts.
Picture: Mr. Souvanpheng points out the remained parts near by the processing plant (March, 2008).
13
D. Marketing In recent years, Houaphanh’s constraints were identified as uncertainty of
the market to buy the produced commodities, and lack of potential market information to the communities or handicraft processors around districts. The relevant department of Houaphanh province recently
permitted and promoted the investment of the bamboo processing sector. Presently, Vietnamese investors established 2 factories in Viengxay.
However, recently the Houaphanh government allowed one more factory, which is being established in Sobbao for the production of paper pulp.
Up to now villagers sell as bamboo shoots, bamboo canes and semi-processed products. The semi-processed products are being sold to the
above mentioned factories, but the price is very low, because the villagers lack an incentive to cut, produce and sell to the factories. For
details on bamboo trading, see as follows:
• Shoots are sold to general Lao and Vietnamese traders as raw
and semi-processed products (drying and boiling), including bitter bamboo shoot, hok shoot and lai shoot). Traders will bring
it to sell at the border, Xiengkouang province and send to sell in Vientiane. The price of raw bamboo shoots is 1,000-2,000 kip/kg and of dried bamboo is 8,000-15,000 kip/kg (annex table
7& 8)
• The bamboo canes are sold for 2 factories as cane and semi-processed products. The price of Mai kouane is 600-1,500/cane and the price of semi-processed product (slashed mai kouan) is
150-250 kip, and of Mai louang is 3,000-6,000 kip/cane.
• Traditional handicrafts (sticky rice box, tray and back basket and wall mats and fences. The price of a sticky rice box is 10,000-15,000 kip/unit; of a tray is 150,000-20,000 kip/unit
and of a wall mat and fence is 4,000-8,000 kip/unit (table 2).
E. Governance issues In addition to issues relating to resources and market, the team also tried
to document governance related issues at present situation as summarized in the followings:
� Power relation among stakeholders The main actors engaging in bamboo activities include villagers
who supply raw bamboo and those making bamboo handicrafts, the collectors and buyers, the concern provincial, district and
village level authorities such as PAFO, DOIC, DPI and village chief. Decision-makings on quotas and the types of investment projects, on the one hand, were mainly driven by government such as
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, provincial DPI, PAFO and DOIC. Trading prices, product specifications and volume of
production/supply, on the other hand, were mainly regulated by factories and bamboo traders. The factories, in particular, had been benefiting from large scale supply of low price raw material and
investment incentives. Despite land and forest allocation at village
14
level, villages having completed land and forest allocation felt that they were not yet actively participated in the consultation process
and decision-makings, in particular on the types of investment projects and trading prices.
Regarding the price, experience of Ban Deuy villagers in their attempt to negotiate for better price with the chop/tooth stick
factory revealed no success, and this was also evident by Nalok village in Sopbao district. This suggested an absolute control over the price by the factory.
� Representation of bamboo producers
All of the bamboo producers in all selected villages in both Viengxay and Sopbao district visited by the team had not yet been
organized in groups, even at a level of processors (bamboo handicraft) no group forming was reported yet. In many villages, it was mainly the village chief who dealt with the company’s
representatives on behalf of the villagers, and rarely there was an open meeting and discussion directly with representatives of the
company with government staff presence. Villagers in Doey village of Viengxay district said that the government could talk to the factory to increase the price.
A Khumban Namxang meeting with village chiefs suggested that
there was little understanding about the benefits of working in group, with exception to the village chief from Phounesan village who was quite aware of the benefits of group formation
demonstrated through his explanations. Despite such limited understanding, the team noted that many villages had experienced
on establishing saving groups which indicated some foundation of working in group.
It can be said that the bamboo producers had no voice or claim making power by having effective representation either by the
government agencies or themselves, partly because a lack of group status, organization and support from the government. Experience on village saving groups can provide a good foundation for
establishing bamboo specific group.
� Transparency Despite a rule for those engaging in bamboo trading to donate 5 Kip of each Kilo selling of raw bamboo to the “village fund”, it was
noticed that most of the villagers are not well aware of the update figure of such collective revenue. It was not clear whether village
authority understood how such a fund should be used and managed, as evident in Ban Deuy district where the fund was used to cover the food cost for government staff in their field visit.
Villagers in Deuy village even proposed to the village chief during the village meeting that they wanted to be informed about the
latest amount of such a fund. Despite the existence of village information boards in some villages, information posted was not
relating to bamboo.
15
Also, when dealing with the factory it was noted that the village
chief was the one who dealt with representatives of the company, in charge of getting and distributing the payment on behalf of the villagers. Rarely, villagers had a chance to meet and discuss
concern matters with the company themselves.
� Access to information and public services Technical knowledge on bamboo processing and marketing, sustainable bamboo harvesting procedure and facilitating access to
information were necessitate for improving benefits of the villagers engaging in bamboo activities. These services were mainly
provided by government agencies such as DOIC, PAFO and DPI. Villagers’ claims on a lack of market information, training support
on agricultural production and bamboo processing, product development and marketing their products probably indicated the limited ability of local concerning agencies to deliver these services.
The low level of services delivered is partly caused by staff shortage, limited capacity, financial means and coordination among
concern technical offices.
Variations in the implementation of provincial policy on 5 Kip per
Kilo deduction from selling raw bamboo to the chop/tooth stick factory in Viengxay district probably indicated a lack of
understanding and/or assistance on the implementation of such a policy. Inter-departmental and inter-line ministry agency’s access to information were also lacking, as evident by Sopbao district
planning office which was not informed about DPI approval on pulp factory establishment in their own district. This issue was
acknowledged by provincial DPI representative during the debriefing workshop.
� Women’s participation Division of work between men and women engaging in bamboo
activities does exists. Most of the women help with bamboo shoot collecting and selling either at home or at the market. Both men and women involved in cutting bamboo, but this is merely a male
dominated activity, being the men carrying the bamboo home. Handicraft making was found to be a common activity for both men
and women.
During village visit, the team observed that an average of 5 – 10%
of women presented in village meeting, and most of them usually sat together and behind men. At the end of the village meeting,
the team invited women for their recommendations. Rarely women exercised their rights. The team observed that despite the existence of women’s group in village management structure, they
rarely participated in village meetings during our visit. Some women in Phonexai village in Sopbao district mentioned that
women were usually asked to help with food preparation, instead of participating actively in the meeting. This was evident in Khumban
Namxang meeting, where only one woman presented during the
16
meeting but was not participating in the discussion because she had to do the cooking.
From a governance perspective it can be concluded that there is little transparency nor accountability of stakeholders towards each
other. Claim making power of vulnerable groups is rather low as they are represented by the village chief only, who shows little
accountability towards villagers for results achieved. Information flow among chain actors is weak a depriving the vulnerable groups from essential knowledge (legal information, rights, market
information).
17
2.2 Recommendations
With the identified constraints, specific measures addressing each of the issue are presented in the following table:
Constraint Identified issues Recommendations Potential
stakeholders/ partners
A. Policy • Weak of regulations to control bamboo processing
factories
• The investment law is not implementing yet
• District and provincial level are still not implementing
the law for control investors
• The factories do not follow up with the feasibility study
after investment
• Set up task force for study the impact short and
long term
• Revising the all feasibility study documents
• Make clear the roles and responsibility of all
stakeholders
• Fact finding for the new investors
• Set up measurement and mechanic to control
investment project by participatory approach
• DOIC
• DPI
• SNV
• PI
B. Production
(including harvesting)
Resource
• Rapid decreasing of the bamboo resource
• Slash-burn for cultivation
• Bamboo domestication
• Inventory and forest management for sustainable
harvesting
• Zoning for bamboo use and preserving
• DAFO,
• PAFO,
• SNV
• NUOL
Technology • Villagers lack of technical know-how and Low
productivity due to they still use of traditional hand
made technique for stripping and cutting bamboo
resulting low quality and low income
• The 2 factories are use traditional technology,
producing inefficiency and lead to buying low price of
raw from villagers
• Villagers lack of skill in term of new design to meet
market demand
• Provision of improving stripping and bamboo
cutting available for group producers
• Improve the quality of factories
• Negotiation and lobby with the factories to
improve prices buying Mai Nan, Mai Diet (half
product)
• Create contract with factories
• Study market demand for the bamboo inside and
outside country
• PI
• SNV
• DOIC
• DPI
• DPTP
Access to finance • Villagers lack of knowledge and know-know to get
access to the fund
• Kum-Ban Phattana do not have the proper business
plan to borrow money from Nayobay bank and other
sources of fund
• Provide training on business plan to get access to
fund from NAYOBAY Bank, PRF project and other
sources of fund
• SNV
• NAYOBAY Bank
• PRF project
• DOIC
Infrastructure
• Some villages could not access in raining season
• Some villages could not communication by
telephone
• Build the road
• Set communication net working
DCTPC
18
D. Marketing Market access
• Villagers have no power for negotiation with traders
• No market for the bamboo handicrafts
• Lack of MIS
• No middle man or traders come to buy handicraft
products in village level
• Group-building
• Study inside market demand for handicraft
products
• Study tour inside and outside country
• Set up MIS (village, district, province)
• Study bamboo market in Vietnam and China
• PI
• Oxfarm (HK)
• DOIC (district
and provincial
levels)
• SNV
• DPTP
• Representative
of the target
villages.
E. Governance • Uneven balance of power among value chain actors,
especially bamboo producers – price, specifications,
volume of production were mainly driven by traders
and investors. • Little involvement in decision-making process
regarding trading price, specifications and volume of
production. • No representation for bamboo producers due to a lack
of group status, network and negotiation skills. • Villagers are not aware of the update figure of the pool
fund contributed by selling bamboo. • Limited access to information about market and public
services such as specific training support relating to
handicraft making and product development,
agricultural production and processing, and marketing. • Staff shortage, limited capacity and budget. • Low level of inter-departmental and district office
coordination. • Low level of women’s participation.
• Improving bamboo producers’ access to
information by studying what type of information
could be of use for them in terms of production,
processing and marketing as well as constraints
and appropriate channels for their access.
• Identifying obstacles to public agencies in
delivering necessary support to bamboo producers
such as organizational matters, staff and
competencies, coordination mechanism, etc.
• Strengthening collaboration between relevant
public authorities, businesses and communities,
especially in the process of determining
appropriate cutting limit, trading price and M&E of
bamboo related business and investment projects
in their localities.
• Building up bamboo producers’ representation and
bargaining power through group establishment,
network development and improving negotiation
skills.
• Identifying capacity gaps of the bamboo producers
regarding sustainable use and participatory
management of bamboo resource, bamboo
processing and marketing.
• Involving knowledge institutes such as polytechnic
schools, the Lao Institute for Renewable Energy
and SMEPDO in helping bamboo producers to
make use of their specialty such as innovating
alternative and locally made technologies to save
time and cost for bamboo production, researching
ways to add value to existing bamboo products
and marketing channels.
• Strengthening capacity of PAFO and provincial
• GDG
• RECOFTC
• VFI
• DPI, DAFO,
DOIC, District
Administrative
Office, Land
Administrative
Office and
WREO.
• SNV
19
Lands Administrative Office to further working with
villages completing land and forest allocation in
establishing community forest management rules
by incorporating good governance principles.
• Facilitating collaboration (information exchange,
coordinated planning, joint implementation)
amongst different stakeholders, calling for a multi-
stakeholder dialogue.
• Strengthening group formation or collective
operations at village level, increasing inclusion and
positioning of collectors / primary producers in the
chain. Representation of collectors by the village
chief only is not effective as the village chief is not
accountable (enough) to villagers regarding result
obtained (for example in bargaining process with
industry)
• Further development of an inclusive bamboo value
chain is the further analysis of the enabling
environment and addressing policy issues
hampering pro-poor and inclusive development of
the bamboo chain.
20
2.2.1 Potential Providers on Market-based solutions
Level Name of service provider Services provided (some relevant examples)
International Prosperity Initiative (PI)
• support access to technology or regional bamboo information network
• Financial support to producer groups
• Assist in lobbying to increase price of bamboo raw material supply to
factories
• Market research to Vietnam and China
National Department of Production and
Trade Promotion
• To assist in strengthening and build capacity of DOIC provincial level
• Assist to link market information at national level
• Promote Huaphan products in national and export market
• Lobbying for enabling trade policies that can be benefit to Houaphan
province
• Provide overseas market information (prices, quality, volume and market
demand)
Provincial Department of Industry and
commerce (DOIC)
• Assist district capacity build to develop business plan at village level
• Develop bamboo master plan for short-term and long term vision
• Assist district to promote bamboo products domestic markets
• Facilitate multi stakeholders workshop
• Fact finding for the new markets and new products
District Industry and Commerce (DOIC)
• Facilitate in policy to enable market environment
• Propose policy support to province and government
District Agriculture and Forestry Office (DAFO)
• Raise awareness bamboo sustainable harvesting and land allocation
• Support participatory Bamboo inventory and management
• Support Khum-Ban develop rules and regulations for use bamboo
District
Land use planning Department
• To develop land use plans that clearly demarcate bamboo production areas
Khum-Ban Khum-ban
• Develop capacity of chief of Khum-Ban to support develop business plan for
villages
• Assist to develop revolving fund for villages
• Facilitate to develop and promote traders or middleman at village level
21
2.3. Action Plan (possible areas for SNV interventions)
• Organize multi-stakeholders workshop with all actors in provincial level to identify short-term and long term activities
� Improving bamboo producers’ access to information by
studying what type of information could be of use for them in terms of production, processing and marketing as well as constraints and appropriate channels for their access.
� Identifying obstacles to public agencies in delivering
necessary support to bamboo producers such as organizational matters, staff and competencies, coordination mechanism, etc.
� Strengthening collaboration between relevant public
authorities, businesses and communities, especially in the process of determining appropriate cutting limit, trading price and M&E of bamboo related business and investment
projects in their localities.
� Support to building up bamboo producers’ representation and bargaining power through group establishment, network development and improving negotiation skills.
� Identifying capacity gaps of the bamboo producers regarding
sustainable use and participatory management of bamboo resource, bamboo processing and marketing.
� Involving value added production � Strengthening capacity of PAFO and provincial Lands
Administrative Office to further working with villages completing land and forest allocation in establishing community forest management rules by incorporating good
governance principles.
22
Conclusion Based upon initial criteria an initial long list of in total 13 villages from three
village clusters of Viengxay district and 5 villages from Sopbao village cluster and district were identified for further fact-finding and analysis by actually
conducting field visits. In the final selection from the long list of villages it was found that 3 villages, Phounsane village in Viengxay district and Navom and Kanghao village in Sopbao district did match best with criteria formulated.
Regarding market potential it was found that two major options occur;
• handicraft production • supply for industrial use
The pro’s and con’s of both options should be further studied. It is however obvious that the second option has a bigger potential in terms of reach (number
of potential beneficiaries) but that added value per beneficiary is potentially higher in the handicraft sector.
Identification of intervention areas should be considered in close collaboration with future counterparts and clients in the concerned province / districts and
villages. Referring to constraints identified many areas could be possibly addressed. In formulating intervention areas the following should be taken into account:
- present situation as encountered in the field including present level of capacity of potential implementers
- capacity of SNV to assist the intervention process and added value of SNV in this process
- scope and reach of interventions (impact) in terms of pro-poor development and improving governance mechanisms.
On short term it is recommended to: * organize multi-stakeholder workshop to further elaborate on follow-up
* conduct in-depth marketing survey analyzing the potential of existing markets and potential new markets (local, external)
ANNEX
24
ANNEX 1: TOR
Terms of Reference
Village assessment for bamboo (product) up scaling in Houaphan In 2007 the bamboo value chain in Houaphan has been mapped and based on
constraints interventions have been identified. The bamboo value chain development will focus on the improving an enabling environment, the MSME
sector and support communities with improved management and a fairer share for their bamboo products.
In order to decide where to place its scarce resources SNV and DOIC need to identify target districts and villagers. In a recent base line study undertaken by
NAFReC/SNV Viengxay and Xiengkhor districts where found the most appropriate to work in the first year of the bamboo value chain development.
Some information is available on more or less successful villages involved in producing traditional bamboo products. However, a more systematic
identification process is needed to identify potential villages to develop /scale up product development.
Objectives of this identification study are, to:
� identify villages successful in developing products and potential for upscaling,
� identify constraints for further product development, � identify management constraints, � identify factors determining success for future scaling up to other areas,
� involve client DOIC at provincial and districts.
The outcome of the identification study will be a list of villages where SNV with Houaphan clients can place its interventions. Recommendations are expected to be in the area of:
� level of group formation
� level of village leadership � quality of business aspects (4Ps) � power constraints in the value chain (control, capacity)
Time frame: March 24th – April 4th 2008.
25
ANNEX 2: Working Schedule
Date & Time Activity
23/3/2008 Departure from Vientiane to XK
24/3/2008 Departure from XK to HP province
9:00AM Meeting with provincial DOIC
� DOIC Director,
� Head of Industry and Trade Promotion Section.
11:30AM Meeting with PAFO
1:00-5:00PM � Meeting with SNV team (HP)
� Team planning and revising questionnaires
25/3/2008 Departure from Samneua district to Viengxay district
9:00AM – 4:00PM Meeting with Viengxay district DOIC, DAFO and District Administrative
Office. Together, developed ‘Village Selection Criteria’ and shortlisted
villages based on the proposed criteria for further field visit and in-dept data
gathering on the following days.
26/3/2008
8:30 – 12:00AM Meeting with Khumban Namsang authority and their village chiefs.
2:00 – 4:00PM Field visit to Phounsane village
27/3/2008 Field visit to
� Phoun Neua village
� Phou Mai village
� Ban Xieng village
� Deua village
28/3/2008 Field visit to Khum-Ban Souy
� Souy village
� Danxay village
� Nagang village
29/3/2008 Continuing to field visit to Khum-Ban Soy
� Ban Kiat village village
� Tiean Village
� Ban Dan
30/3/2008 Departure from Viengxay district to Sopbao district
31/3/2008 Meeting with Sopbao district DOIC, DAFO, District Planning Office and
District Administrative Office. Together, developed ‘Village Selection Criteria’
and shortlisted villages based on the proposed criteria for further field visit
and in-dept data gathering.
1/4/2008 Field visit to
� Nayom village
� Phonxay village
� Naxang village
� Nalok village
2/4/2008 Continue field visit to
� Ban Kangchao village
10:00AM Departure from Sopbao to Samneua for debriefing
3/4/2008
8:00 – 12:00AM Planning for the afternoon debriefing workshop
2:00 – 5:00PM Debriefing workshop held at provincial DOIC Office
4/4/2008 Departure from Samneua to XK by car, then by air plane to Vientiane.
26
ANNEX 3: Questionnaires
Interviewer: ……………………………………..…………Date: …………………………….; District:…………………………………………..;
Name of the village cluster: ……………………………………………; Name of village: ………………..……………………………….
Questions Answers
I. General information of the village:
1. Population number? No. of families? How many ethnic groups?
• No. of women?
• No. of men?
• No. of families divided by poverty levels.
2. What are the major sources of income of the village?
i. What are the village’s main jobs?
ii. What are the village’s second main jobs?
3. Has your village completed the land and forest allocation activity?
4. Describe development projects in your village? Any impacts?
5. Has your village established the bamboo producers’ group?
6. If yes, what are the group’s rules?
7. Has there been any conflict in the group?
8. If so, what procedures did the group deploy to address such
conflicts?
9. What are the positive and negative aspects of having such a group
formed?
II. Bamboo Resource
1. How many hectares of bamboo in your village? How many types?
What types are in high demand of the market?
2. Does your village have bamboo management rules?
If yes, what kind of penalties applied for those breaking the rules?
If fines involved, how such money were used?
3. How women and children in this village involved in bamboo
activities?
(i.e. in the process of cutting, processing, selling, etc.)
4. What are the rights and obligations of the villagers using bamboo?
27
III. General information about bamboo markets
1. Products
Annual income Product
types of bamboo
Place of harvesting
Harvesting period
Processing Sell or use
(%) Final
product Place of sale
Distance to market
buyer Unit price
Per HH village
HH involve
Fresh shoot
Dry shoot
Poles
Wall mats
Other handicrafts
2. What is the major constraint or difficulty for harvesting bamboo?
From your perspective, what could be the solution to this constraint?
3. How do you process bamboo? (i.e. fresh shoot, poles, etc.) Do you encounter any constraints in processing bamboo? How do you overcome such constraints?
4. What are the constraints for selling your bamboo products? How do you deal with such problems?
5. What kind of relationship or interaction is there between traders and farmers? Is there any form of support provided by the traders to the villagers? (i.e. lending money, etc.)
6. Is there any form of written and signed contract between the traders and villagers?
7. Bamboo market, who determines the price of the bamboo products? Between pole, handicraft and shoot, where do you see the most potential?
8. What kind of policy is there in place in the Kum Ban, if any, to support the bamboo value chain? What kind of tax or fee do you pay?
9. What are the villagers’ comments and suggestions regarding bamboo market and support needed?
28
ANNEX 4: Participants helping to develop the Village Selection criteria
� At Viengxay district Date & Time: March 25th 2008, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Venue: Viengxay District Administrative Office’s Meeting Room
� At Sopbao district Date & Time: March 31st 2008, 9:00 – 12:00 AM
Venue: Meeting Room of Tanekham Guest House.
ANNEX 4: Participants helping to develop the Village Selection Criteria
� At Viengxay district Date & Time: March 25th 2008, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Venue: Viengxay District Administrative Office’s Meeting Room
Name Position Office Phone
number
1. Mr. Syvixay Technical staff District Administrative Office -
2. Mr. Inphone Khammixay Deputy Head Viengxay District DOIC -
3. Mr. Lamphoune Chanthathone Technical staff Viengxay District DAFO -
4. Mr. Phinsaeng Technical staff HP provincial DOIC 020 2431619
5. Ms. Manichanh Vorabut Technical staff NAFREC 020 5476198
6. Mr. Sith Soukchaleunphone SME advisor SNV North Portfolio 020 6505557
7. Mr. Souvanpheng Phommasane NTFP advisor SNV Central 020 5682886
8. Mr. Ekkasit Pathammavong GfE advisor SNV Central 020 2406466
Name Position Office Phone
number
1. Mr. Khamlien Phetsythorne Deputy District
Cabinet
District Administrative Office 579 0260
2. Mr. Souphaphone Technical staff Sopbao District DOIC 509 3819
3. Mrs. Chanphone Xayaboun Deputy Head Sopbao District DAFO 509 4877
4. Ms. Waiphet Technical staff Sopbao District Planning Office 244 7643
5. Mr. Phinsaeng Younsengva Technical staff HP provincial DOIC 24131619
6. Ms. Manichanh Borabut Technical staff NAFREC 5476198
7. Mr. Sith Soukchaleunphone SME advisor SNV North Portfolio 6505557
8. Mr. Souvanpheng Phommasane NTFP advisor SNV Central 5682886
9. Mr. Ekkasit Pathammavong GfE advisor SNV Central 240 6466
Name Position Office Phone
number
1. Mr. Syvixay Technical staff District Administrative Office
2. Mr. Inphone Khammixay Deputy Head Viengxay District DOIC
3. Mr. Lamphoune Chanthathone Technical staff Viengxay District DAFO
4. Mr. Phinsaeng Technical staff HP provincial DOIC 020 2431619
5. Ms. Manichanh Vorabut Technical staff NAFREC 020 5476198
6. Mr. Sith Soukchaleunphone SME advisor SNV North Portfolio 020 6505557
7. Mr. Souvanpheng Phommasane NTFP advisor SNV Central 020 5682886
8. Mr. Ekkasit Pathammavong GfE advisor SNV Central 020 2406466
29
� At Sopbao district Date & Time: March 31st 2008, 9:00 – 12:00 AM
Venue: Meeting Room of Tanekham Guest House.
Name Position Office Phone
number
1. Mr. Khamlien Phetsythorne Deputy District
Cabinet
District Administrative Office 579 0260
2. Mr. Souphaphone Technical staff Sopbao District DOIC 509 3819
3. Mrs. Chanphone Xayaboun Deputy Head Sopbao District DAFO 509 4877
4. Ms. Waiphet Technical staff Sopbao District Planning Office 244 7643
5. Mr. Phinsaeng Younsengva Technical staff HP provincial DOIC 24131619
6. Ms. Manichanh Borabut Technical staff NAFREC 5476198
7. Mr. Sith Soukchaleunphone SME advisor SNV North Portfolio 6505557
8. Mr. Souvanpheng Phommasane NTFP advisor SNV Central 5682886
9. Mr. Ekkasit Pathammavong GfE advisor SNV Central 240 6466
30
ANNEX 5: A list of participants participating in the debriefing workshop Date & Time: April 3rd 2008, 2:00 – 5:00PM
Venue: HP provincial DOIC Meeting Room
No. Name Position Office Contact
1 Mr. Angkham Keobouakham Deputy Director DoIC 5764666
2 Mr. Pandphet Deputy Head of the
Section DoIC 5664108
3 Ms. Phouthasone Deputy Head of the
Section DoIC 5664901
4 Ms. Phoungseng Head of the Import and
Export section DoIC 6085671
5 Mr. Phinsaeng Younsengva
Technical staff of Industry
and Trade Promotion
Section
DoIC 2431619
6 Mr. Suksavanh Sayarath Head Division of
Production and Trade MOIC/DPTP 5698589
7 Ms. Manichanh Technical staff NAFREC 5546872
8 Mr. Phetseng Sinkhamphet Technical staff OoG 6593688
9 Mr. Tan Srisompheng Land Administrative
Section
Provincial Land
Administrative
Office
5766014
10 Mr. Phesakhone Technical staff PAFO 5180448
11 Mr. Bounkham Hounglakhom Deputy Head DPI 2346324
12 Mr. Xaygnaphone Environmental engineer WREO 5765302
13 Mr. Souvanpheng Phommasane NTFP Marketing advisor SNV 5682886
14 Ms. Ester Kruk Advisor/team leader SNV -
15 Mr. Sith Soukchaleunphone Business advisor SNV 6505557
16 Mr. Ekkasit Pathammavong Governance for
Empowerment advisor SNV 2406466
31
ANNEX 6: Minute from the debriefing workshop 3rd April 2008
Participating in this workshop include representatives from provincial DPI, PAFO, DoIC,
Land Administrative Office, Office of the Governor. The meeting was chaired by the
provincial DoIC, including the Head of the Information Unit of the Department of
Production and Trade Promotion, Mr. Souksavanh. NAFREC staff also attended.
In general, feedbacks from invited government departments are positive and
encouraging for the team. Provincial HP DoIC Deputy Director is very much appreciated
the work of SNV on this study; claimed DoIC has limited staff, technical capacity and
financial means to do that. According to the representative from provincial DPI, the
province has a plan on development and management of bamboo – still, the problem is
that implementation has not been yet done in line with the outlined strategies. Mr.
Xayaphone, representative from provincial Water Resource and Environmental Office
acknowledges the potential benefit of this study to environment.
Further clarification on bamboo such as approving bamboo related projects was
additional provided by the Deputy Director of DoIC, said, “Bamboo is not considered as
scare timber and not restricted for exploration. The process started with a discussion
and approval from village, then the proposal from village is made to the district,
provincial and finally approved by the Government.” He also added that the Government
is the one deciding quota, and it is the investor’s responsibility to discuss with district
and village on bamboo related business and investment. Currently, there are two
companies doing business on bamboo which falls under the responsibility of the Industry
Supervision Section of the Department. At present, the province is still unable to get
companies with better processing efficiency.
As the team raised an issue on the lack of coordination between provincial and district
DPI, representative from provincial DPI acknowledges the claim. He further added that
the district DPI at this stage has no right to approve investment project, but could
approve small businesses – thought specific figure on the capital was not indicated.
Another issue being confirmed by participant is a lack of information on market which
constraints bamboo development (pricing and value adding). Participant from DPTP
made a request to the team in providing case studies (good examples) for further study
on the use and development of bamboo resources/products. The same participant also
made a suggestion for other participants and SNV, in particular who is working with
provincial PTO, to think about linking bamboo with tourism.
Mr. Souvanpheng, the team leader of this study, said that the report will be finalized,
incorporating your feedbacks, and shared with you later this month. He suggested that
other development partners such as PI and Oxfam could be potential supporter and
partner in assisting bamboo development, and suggested DOIC to involve them, where
possible.
32
ANNEX 7: Summaries of data collected of chosen villages in Viengxay district
Annual income (kip)
Village
cluster
Ban/ village Product Place of
harvesting
Harvesting
period
Processing
% usage Place of
sell
Distance to
market
Buyer(s)
Price
per unit
(Kip)
Per HH
Per Village
No. of
families
involved
Development
Project
Phounsan
Wall
and
fence
mats
and
baskets
Use 11-4 Stripping Sell 90% Village
Traders
from Sam
Neua
4,000 -
8,000 2,856,000 128,520,000
45 HHs
90%
involved
Corn and
Soybean
project
Phounneua Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Nam Sang
Phounkang Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non Non
Dry
shoot
Near by
village 6-9
slice, boil,
sun-dried.
Eat 60%
Sell 40%
Village Vietnam 8,000- 15,000
100,000 2,200,000
22 HHs and
40%
involved
None
Phounmai
Poles Near by
village 11-1 Cut Sell 90% Village
Leminchao
company
105 -
205
Kip/Kg
8,035,741
450,000,000
56 HHs
None
Fresh
shoots
Near by
village 6-9 Boil
Eat 30%
Sell 70%
Village
and
Namoe
border
8 Km Vietnamese
1,000
- 3,000
Kip/Kg
4,800,000
158,400,000
33 HHs Xieng
Rice
baskets
Near by
village All handicrafts Sell Village
Pass
passenger
15,000
-20,000
50,000-
100,000 600,000-
700,000 2-3 HHs
PRF,
Manonie
Phoun
Som Dry
shoots
Near by
village 6-9
Slice, sun
dried, Boil
Sell
Nameo 9 Km Vietnamese 8,000 -
12,000 100,000 4,400,000 44 HHs -
33
Deua Poles Near by
village 10-6 Cut Sell 100% Village 8 kM
Lemin
Chao
company
105-205
K/kg
842,105
K/kg
80,000:000
95 HHs
PRF,
Manonie,
UNICEF
Souy poles Near by
village 6-9 Cut
Use 70%
Sell 30%
Sell at
village
and send
to
company
5 Km
Lemin
Chao
company
115-
200
K/kg
170,000-
200,000
1,000,000-
3,000,000
93 HHs
PRF,
manonie,
UNICEF
Danxay Poles Near by
village 6-9 Cut
Use 70%
Sell 30%
Sell at
village -
Lemin
Chao
company
180
K/kg 1,800,000 158,400,000 88 HHs UNICEF
Fresh
shoots
Near by
village 4-6 Boil
Eat 40%
Sell 60%
Sell at
village -
Pass
passenger
s
1,000
K/Kg
200,000-
300,000
20,500,000
82 HHs
Nagnang
Rice
baskets - - -
Use 60 %
Sell 40 %
Sell at
village - -
10,000-
20,000
Kip/unit
300,000-
400,000
1,750,000 5 families
PRF
Kiat Non - - - - - - - - - - - PRF, Unicef CMI
Tiean Non - - - - - - - - - - - -
Souy
Dan Poles
Sell at
village &
send to
company
12-2 Cut Sell 100
% Na Meo 3 km Vietnam
160-
210
K/kg
119,500-
200,000
8,000,000-
11,000,000
55 HHs
CMI, ADB
PRF
34
ANNEX 8: Summaries of data collected of chosen villages in Sopbao district
Annual income (Kip) Villag
e
cluste
r
Ban/
village Product
Place of
harvesting
Harvesting
period
Processing
% usage Place of
sell
Distance
to
market
Buyer(s)
Price per
unit
(Kip) Per HH Per Village
No. of
families
involved
Developmen
t project
Fresh shoot Near by
village 6-9 -
Sell 20%
Eat 80%
Sobbao
and
Samneua
30 km 70 km
market
1,000
100,000
2,000,000 20 HHs
Rice baskets Near by
village Whole year
Handicraft
Sell 100%
At village
and
Samneua
markets
70 km P
ass
passengers
and
market
10,000 - 60,000
Kadong
(sort out
rice band
from rice
Near by
village Whole year Handicraft
Sell 100%
At village
and
Samneua
markets
70 km P
ass
passengers
and
market
10,000 - 15,000
Kape (big
basket)
Near by
village Whole year
Handicraft
Sell 100%
At village
and
Samneua
markets
70 km P
ass
passengers
and
market
30,000 - 60,000
2,000,000-3,000,000
150,000,000
60 HHs
Nayom
Corn Up land
farm October Clean 100%
At village
and farm -
Vietnames
e traders
400-600 k/kg
1,558,333
93,500,000
60 HHs
ADB,CMI
Sopbao
Phonecxay
Fresh shoots Near by
village 6-9 -
Sell 20%
Eat 80%
At village
and
Samneua
markets
72 km
Pass
passengers
1,000 k/kg
20,000
500,000-
1,000,000 Some
families PRF
35
Soybean
Up land
farm 9-10 -
Sell
100% At village -
Vietnames
e traders
3,000 -4,000 k/kg
2,000,000
-5,000,000
210,000,000 80 HHs
Soybean
Up land
farm 9-10 - Sell 100%
At village
and farm
gate
-
Vietnames
e traders
3,000 - 4,000 k/kg
-6,000,000
216,000,000 48 HHs
Na chang
Corn
Up land
farm 10 clean Sell 100%
At village
and farm
gate
-
Vietnames
e traders
500 k/kg
500,000 -
2,000,000
60,000,000 48 HHs
PRF, CMI
Soybean
Up land
farm 9-10 - Sell 100%
At village
and
Vietnam
border
7 km
Vietnames
e traders
2,500 - 5,000 k/kg 2
,500,000
10,000,00
0
631,250,000 101
HHs
Nalok
Corn
Up land
farm 10 Clean
Sell
100%
At village
and farm
gate
-
Vietnames
e traders
500 k/kg
600,000 -
1,000,000
80,800,000 101
HHs
PRF
Soybean
Up land
farm 9-10 - Sell100% At village -
Traders
1,000 -5,000 k/kg
1,740,259
268,000,000 154
HHs
Kaqngchao
Corn
Up land
farm 10 Clean Sell 100% At village -
Vietnam
traders
500 k/kg
811,688
125,000,000 154
HHs
PRF
36
ANNEX 9: Records on bamboo resource and species found in visited villages
Bamboo species of market demand
District Village
cluster Ban/Village
Bamboo
resource
(ha) Local name Scientific name
Phounsane 800 ha
• Mai Louang
• Mai Khouane (Mai phang)
• Mai hia
• Gigantochloa haskarliana Kurz, Barker & Hayne
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Schizostachyum blumei
Phounnuae 2,000 ha • Mai Khouane
• Mai Louang
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Gigantochloa haskarliana Kurz, Barker & Hayne
Nam Sang
Phounkang 200 ha • Mai Khouane
• Mai Louang
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Gigantochloa haskarliana Kurz, Barker & Hayne
Phounmai 10 ha • Mai Khouane • Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
Som 6 ha • Mai Khouane • Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
Xieng 310 ha • Mai Khouane • Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus Phoun
Duae 60 ha • Mai Khouane
• Mai Louang
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Gigantochloa haskarliana Kurz, Barker & Hayne
Dant 334 ha • Mai Khouane • Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
Kient 10,000 ha • Mai Khouane
• Mai hok
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
Souy 300 ha • Mai Khouane
• Mai Louang
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Gigantochloa haskarliana Kurz, Barker & Hayne
Viengxay
Souy
Danxay 50,000 ha • Mai Khouane • Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
37
Nayang 20 ha • Mai Khouane
• Mai Louang
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Gigantochloa haskarliana Kurz, Barker & Hayne
Thand 500 ha • Mai Khouane
• Mai Louang
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Gigantochloa haskarliana Kurz, Barker & Hayne
Nayom 50 ha
• Mai Khouane
• Mai hok
• Mai lai
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
• Gigantobloa albociliata
Phonsane 688 ha
• Mai Khouane
• Mai hok
• Mai lai
• Mai sang
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
• Bambusa striata Lodd.ex Lundl. (B. vulgaris
Nasang 3 ha
• Mai louang
• Mai bong
• Mai lai
• Gigantochloa haskarliana Kurz, Barker & Hayne
• Bambusa tulda
• Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
Nalok NA
• Mai Khouane
• Mai louang
• Mai hok
• Mai Keun
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Gigantochloa haskarliana Kurz, Barker & Hayne
• Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
• Bambusapolymorpha Munro
Sopbao
Sopbao
Kanghao 1000 ha
• Mai Khouane
• Mai hok
• Mai lai
• Dendrocalamus lonoifimbriatus
• Gigantochloa haskarliana Kurz, Barker & Hayne
• Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
