Global markets, value chains, livelihoods & cassava production systems: implications and opportunities in Lao PDR

Virtual Seminar June 2024

1. Global markets, value chains,
livelihoods & cassava production
systems: implications and
opportunities in Lao PDR
Dr Jonathan Newby
Global Cassava Program Leader and CGIAR Country Convener
DFAT-ACIAR Online Webinar
26
th
June 2024

2. Vision and Mission

3. Strategic engagement towards food system change
People consume
diverse, nutritious
and safe foods.
People participate
in and benefit
from inclusive,
innovative and
diversified
agri-food markets.
People sustainably
manage farms,
forests and
landscapes that are
productive, resilient
to climate change.
Communities and
institutions
sustainably use and
safeguard
agricultural
biodiversity.

4. Cassava Program Mission Statement
To improve the livelihoods of cassava-growing smallholders and
their communities, the Cassava Program will co-develop
innovative solutions for specific regions, farming systems, and
markets that boost farm productivity, enhance consumer
benefits, and drive sustainability throughout the value chain.

5. A sustainable and commercially competitive
smallholder-based industry

6. As a program we work with
partners and stakeholder
across scales to:
Understand the demand,
drivers & trajectories of the
cassava sector
Incentives to adopt and scale
innovations in different
contexts

7. The Cassava Program:
The Research Areas
Developing multidisciplinary research teams
and partnerships to ensure that research has
impact.

8. Background to Australia’s investment
•Cassava Value Chain and Livelihood Program (2016-19)
•(Cambodia and Lao PDR ASEM/2014/05 and Vietnam and Indonesia AGB/2012/078)
•Establishing sustainable solutions to cassava diseases in mainland Southeast
Asia (2019-23)
•Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia (Thailand, India, China)
•Disease-resilient and sustainable cassava production systems in the Mekong
region (2024-2028)
•Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam

11. A regional cassava economy, impacted by the
global context

12. The interconnected cassava economy of Mainland
Southeast AsiaGreen dot: 1000 ha of cassava
Black dot: starch factory
Source: CIAT, compilation of unpublished and published district level data

13. Cassava production: boom or trend?
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997
2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015 2018 2021
Area of cassava production (million ha)
IndonesiaPhilippinesThailandViet NamCambodiaLao People's Democratic Republic
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997
2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015 2018 2021
Cassava production (million tons)
IndonesiaPhilippinesThailandViet NamCambodiaLao People's Democratic Republic

14. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997
2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015 2018 2021
Quantity of dried cassava (fresh dried) imports (million
tons)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997
2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015 2018 2021
(Value of cassava (fresh dried) imports (Billion USD)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997
2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015 2018 2021
Quantity of cassava starch imports (million tons)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997
2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015 2018 2021
Value of cassava starch imports (Billion USD)
Changing trade dynamics influenced by policy and geopolitics

15. The market outlook for cassava needs to be considered in the context of
substitutes in different applications beyond the region (global)
1.Direct consumption as food and on-farm utilisation in
livestock system (compete against purchased alternatives).
2.Global markets where cassava chips compete with other
forms of carbohydrate for processing animal feed or
ethanol such as maize, sorghum, wheat, molasses – oil,
gas.
3.Markets where cassava starch competes largely on price
with substitutes such as maize and potato starch,
sugarcane.
4.Markets where the functional properties of the starch are
desired. Food processing; consumer preferences, clean
label segment, gluten free, non-GMO, etc
Maintaining and enhancing productivity is essential for competitiveness and
realizing the potential of new markets

16. Cassava breeding pipelines
Biofortified
cassava
for human
consumption
Fresh &
dried roots
for human
consumption
Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
South East Asia (SEA)
(LAC, SSA) (LAC, SSA & SEA)
Industrial
cassava -
starch &
animal feed
Cassava
specialty
starch
(LAC)
(LAC, SSA & SEA)

18. On the supply side – the relative competitiveness against other
land use in the context of different trends and shocks
•Own price and relative prices to other commodities
that can be produced in agro-ecological zones
•Influenced by a range of policies
•Transport costs influence farm gate prices
•Changes in costs of production
•Fertiliser/seed etc
•Changing labour costs and ease of mechanization
•Long term climate trends
•Short term floods and droughts
•Changes in land suitability and land degradation
• Impact of pest and disease
•Land use and land tenure policy

19. Smallholder cassava farmers are connected to global
markets that impact both demand and supply
0
50
100
150
200
250
Jan-17 Jun-17 Nov-17 Apr-18 Sep-18 Feb-19 Jul-19 Dec-19 May-20 Oct-20 Mar-21 Aug-21 Jan-22 Jun-22 Nov-22 Apr-23 Sep-23 Feb-24
Index Jan 2017 = 100
Maize Sugar, worldThai Roots
0
50
100
150
200
250
Jan-17 Jun-17 Nov-17 Apr-18 Sep-18 Feb-19 Jul-19 Dec-19 May-20 Oct-20 Mar-21 Aug-21 Jan-22 Jun-22 Nov-22 Apr-23 Sep-23 Feb-24
Index Jan 2017 = 100
Palm oil Coffee, arabicaCoffee, robusta
Rubber, SGP/MYSThai Roots

20. Thai cassava starch is the reference price
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
650
Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11
Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17
Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19 Jul-19
Jan-20 Jul-20 Jan-21 Jul-21
Jan-22 Jul-22 Jan-23 Jul-23 Jan-24
Domestic Price (Baht/kg)Export Price (FOB US/MT)
Export Price (FOB US/MT)Domestic price (Baht/kg)

21. Changes in the prices impact production decisions at
the farm level and influence the flow of trade
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
Jan-10 Oct-10
Jul-11 Apr-12 Jan-13 Oct-13 Jul-14 Apr-15 Jan-16 Oct-16 Jul-17 Apr-18 Jan-19 Oct-19 Jul-20 Apr-21
Jan-22 Oct-22 Jul-23 Apr-24
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
650
Fresh root 25% SC (USD/t)
Starch FOB Bangkok (USD/t)
Cassava Starch (FOB Bangkok)Roots USD/t (25%)
150
170
190
210
230
250
270
290
310
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
650
Jan-10 Oct-10
Jul-11 Apr-12 Jan-13 Oct-13 Jul-14 Apr-15 Jan-16 Oct-16 Jul-17 Apr-18 Jan-19 Oct-19 Jul-20 Apr-21
Jan-22 Oct-22 Jul-23 Apr-24
Cassava Chips
-
FOB Bangkok (USD/t)
Starch
-
FOB Bangkok (USD/t)
Tapioca Starch (Super High-Grade) Export Price (USD/T)Tapioca Chips Export Price (USD/T)

22. Prices fluctuate based on local demand and supply – but
global markets largely influence the average prices
Farmers witness low production due to drought in local areaFarmers are expecting higher prices
The price is determined by the global market situation

23. Changes in derived demand and supply impact the
competitiveness of cassava starch
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Jul-12
Nov-12 Mar-13 Jul-13
Nov-13 Mar-14 Jun-14 Oct-14 Feb-15 Jun-15 Oct-15 Feb-16 Jun-16 Oct-16 Feb-17 Jun-17 Oct-17 Feb-18 Jun-18 Oct-18 Feb-19 Jun-19 Oct-19
Jan-20 May-20 Sep-20 Jan-21 May-21 Sep-21 Jan-22 May-22 Sep-22 Jan-23 May-23 Sep-23 Jan-24 May-24
Cassava Starch (USD/T)
Maize price (USD/T)
US Maize (FOB Gulf) US Maize +Freight+ VAT
Chinese Maize (DCE Nearby Futures)Cassava Starch (FOB Bangkok)
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Oct-09 Jul-10 Apr-11
Jan-12 Oct-12 Jul-13 Apr-14 Jan-15 Oct-15 Jul-16 Apr-17 Jan-18 Oct-18 Jul-19
Apr-20 Jan-21 Oct-21 Jul-22 Apr-23 Jan-24
USD/MT
DifferenceTapioca starch (Super High-Grade) FOB BangkokCorn starch, Midwest

24. Thailand top starch export destinations
(2022 and 2023)
Rank Country Quantity (tons)Value (USD)%
World 3,631,2441,774,369,914100
1 CHINA 2,267,5731,083,462,57261.1
2 INDONESIA 290,912144,511,0448.14
3 TAIWAN 289,461140,588,9217.92
4 MALAYSIA 161,93677,900,5214.39
5 PHILIPPINES 134,25967,552,0163.81
6 JAPAN 128,33564,126,3893.61
7 U.S.A. 95,45555,651,8343.14
8 SINGAPORE 70,06134,835,5511.96
9 S.KOREA 34,16717,202,5670.97
10 NETHERLANDS 18,42910,762,9480.61
11 LAOS 21,29710,028,5310.57
12 AUSTRALIA 13,536 7,777,2640.44
13 CANADA 7,782 6,092,9940.34
Rank Country Quantity (tons)Value (USD)%
World 2,812,009,2361,488,934,904100
1 CHINA 1,822,039,452950,875,39063.9
2 TAIWAN 241,805,864128,007,4448.6
3 MALAYSIA 168,359,37587,835,5475.9
4 PHILIPPINES109,986,88360,973,2424.1
5 JAPAN 115,234,95559,813,5944.02
6 U.S.A. 70,438,85542,242,6452.84
7 SINGAPORE 57,621,05429,073,6891.95
8 LaoPDR 34,728,71518,460,4801.24
9 S.KOREA 30,151,54615,561,2811.05
10 SOUTHAFRICA 12,609,0817,986,7710.54
11 AUSTRALIA 12,414,9867,951,9930.53
12 MYANMAR 15,467,3007,862,7510.53
13 INDONESIA 14,097,1807,430,6420.5
2022 2023

26. Thailand
Vietnam
2022 largest export value for both Thailand and Vietnam
Decline in 2023
due to lack of
supply
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Vietnam Export volume (Million tons)
Starch (tons)Chips (tons)
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Vietnam Export value (Billion USD)
Starch (USD)Chips (USD)
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Thai Export Violume (Million tons)
Starch (tons)Chip (tons)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Thai Export value (Billion USD)
Starch (USD)Chip (USD)

27. Lao has become a major supplier to Thailand, but mainly as chips
being exported to China - although investment in starch processing
is expanding
New starch processing capacity being established. Government banning exports of roots
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
Thai Imports (Million tons)
Cambodia (tons)Lao (tons)
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.4
Thai Imports (Billion USD)
Cambodia (USD)Lao (USD)

28. Vietnam import of roots and dried chips. The Vietnamese starch
market depends heavily on imported roots from Cambodia and was
increasing been looking to Laos
-
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Cambodia RootsCambodia ChipsLao Roots Lao Chips
Vietnam import of roots and chips (Million tons)
Vietnam imports (tons)
202120222023
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Cambodia RootsCambodia ChipsLao Roots Lao Chips
Vietnam import of roots and chips (Million USD)
Vietnam Imports (USD)
202120222023
Over $1 Billion USD imported from Cambodia in 2022
~ $570 million USD imported from Cambodia in 2023

29. Processing capacity
in Vietnam
•120 factories with a design processing capacity of
11.3 million tons of fresh roots
•Concentration of capacity in Tay Ninh Province
•The southern region can only domestically
produce around 2.7 million tons of roots but has a
processing capacity of 7.4 million tons
•Import from Cambodia important for viability of
the factories
•Huge shortages remain – resulting in excess
capacity and strong competition for roots
No Location
Number of
factory
Design capacity (1,000 tons
fresh root per year)
Actual processing capacity
(1,000 tons fresh root per year)
Whole country 120 11,316 8,626
North and Red River Delta 14 676 633
1Ninh Bình 1
2Hà Giang 1 2 2
3Cao Bằng 1 12 10
4Lào Cai 1 52 45
5Yên Bái 3 81 56
6Phú Thọ 2 81 80
7Điện Biên 1 54 45
8Sơn La 2 305 305
9Hoà Bình 2 90 90
North central 13 579 545
10Thanh Hoá 4 216 200
11Nghệ An 3 244 244
12Hà Tĩnh 1 16 16
13Quảng Bình 2 25 25
14Quảng Trị 2 15 10
15Th.Thiên Huế 1 63 50
South Coastal Central 8 998 983
16Quảng Nam 1 129 135
17Quảng Ngãi 1 270 260
18Bình Định 4 192 180
19Phú Yên 2 408 408
Central Highland 20 1,684 1,699
20Kon Tum 5 510 510
21Gia Lai 3 950 950
22Đắk Lắk 9 185 200
23Đắk Nông 3 39 39
South Eastern 65 7,378 4,767
24Bình Phước 2 153 151
25Tây Ninh 60 6,550 3,946
26Đồng Nai 1 315 320
27Bình Thuận 2 360 350

30. The battle for fresh roots between Vietnam and
Thailand; and between starch and chip processors
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
80
100
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
Jan-16Jan-17Jan-18Jan-19Jan-20Jan-21Jan-22Jan-23
Bangkok
-
HCMC (USD/t)
Starch price (USD/t)
DifferenceFOB HCMC FOB Bangkok
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Jan-17 Apr-17 Jul-17 Oct-17 Jan-18 Apr-18 Jul-18 Oct-18 Jan-19 Apr-19 Jul-19 Oct-19
Jan-20 Apr-20 Jul-20 Oct-20 Jan-21 Apr-21 Jul-21 Oct-21
Jan-22 Apr-22 Jul-22 Oct-22 Jan-23 Apr-23 Jul-23 Oct-23
Fresh root price (30%SC) (USD/ ton)
Difference (USD/t)Thai (30%) Sonla DakLak TayNinh Thai (25%)

31. $60
$60
$60
$60
$70
$85
$75
$85
$85
$75
$65
$80
$60

32. A significant contribution to Lao PDR economy
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 (Jan-May)
Value of export of cassava produts by
destination (Miliion USD)
ThailandChinaViet Nam

33. Contribution to rural livelihoods, especially the poorest households
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Income Quartiles
Cassava Income Non-Cassava Cropping Income
Total Livestock IncomeOff-farm Income
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Income Quartiles
Total Cassava IncomeNon-Cassava Cropping Income
Total Livestock IncomeOff-farm Income
Total income Cash income

34. The monthly official salary of the most active cassava researcher in MAF in 1,900,000 LAK per month
The current price of fresh cassava roots in between 1,500 and 2,000 LAK/Kg
A bad cassava yields is 15t/ha; a good farmer gets 35t/ha

35. Ongoing expansion is not a long-term solution for the industry –
sustainable sourcing will become increasingly important.

36. Maintaining productivity and competitiveness

37. Productivity and prices are important

38. Sri Lanka Cassava Mosaic Virus
(SLCMV) was first reported in in
Cambodia in 2015 and is now
present throughout the major
producing regions adding
constraints to farmers already
dealing with climate and market
uncertainty.
From the first report in a single plantation in Northeast Cambodia
•The economic impact of cassava disease continues to
accumulate rapidly. Estimates of infected production area
from partner include
•419,560 ha in Cambodia (~76% of planted area in June
2022),
•120,686 ha in Vietnam (72,400ha in 2021),
•~480,000ha in Thailand (105,777ha in 2021).
•In Laos there had been several new outbreaks, but
eradication has efforts have reportedly kept the area low
(<100ha) decreasing from the 600 ha in 2021
•This represents over 37% of the combined cassava
area in those countries (up from 24% in 2021).
Productivity remains under threat from Disease in Mainland Southeast Asia

39. What were the planned outputs? (2019)
1.Commercially competitive and acceptable cassava varieties resistant to CMD
or CWBD through a process of screening, breeding and selection;
2.Enhanced regional diagnostic protocols, tools and information platforms fit for
purpose in monitoring, surveillance, and certification applications across
scales;
3.Models for the development of economically sustainable cassava seed
systems for the rapid dissemination of new varieties and clean planting
material to farmers in different value chains.
4.Business models, policy recommendations and alternative funding
models for sustainability of interventions across multiple scales.
5.Cropping system options to mitigate the impacts of cassava disease and
improve the productivity and sustainability of smallholder cassava cultivation.

40. Disease surveillance and diagnostics

41. Standardizing protocols and sharing data

43. Extension information co-developed with
development projects and government

44. Interventions in infected fields and destruction of infected
stems made possible through rapid (1hr) in-field diagnostics
Challenges remain when smallholders have invested in the crop

45. Breeding for resistance

46. Recommendation for farmers under different disease
pressure scenarios
•Short-term – least susceptible existing Asian elite varieties that can be part of a clean
seed system under low disease pressure; and which varieties to avoid
•Medium Term – best-bet CMD resistant clones from IITA and CIAT in different locations.
•Long term – progress on introgressing CMD resistance into elite Asian germplasm with
the use of modern breeding tools and approaches

48. In some location, planting clean or positive selected stem cuttings is
maintaining yields.
Where to source clean stems?
D=30; C=60; B=150; A=270 ~DAP

49. Will clean stems of existing varieties maintain yields in disease
hotspots??

50. Introduce CMD-resistant Germplasm
Germplasm
Hawaii
CIAT
IITA
DSMZ
•4,246 seeds to Laos
•4,964 seeds to Vietnam
•3,765 seeds to Thailand
•102 CMD resistant candidates
•C33, C39
•DM x CMD population
5 CMD resistant clones
5 Dual resistant clones to
CMD and CBSD

51. Two sides of the same road – CMD resistant varieties
in Tay Ninh, Vietnam

52. 1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
Tay Ninh
Dong Nai (HLARC)
Lam Dong
Dak Lak
Phu Yen
Quang Ngai
Ha Noi (AGI)
Son La
7
HLARC, Hung Loc Agricultural Research Center
AGI, Agricultural Genetics Institute
7
8
8
Breeding Trialing Network in Vietnam

56. 2023-24 harvest in Southern Laos with NO CMD
Clone/Variety
Yield
(t/ha)
Stat
Tukey's
test
Strach
Content
(%)
Stat
Tukey's
test
SM 2775-2 33.1a 28.5ab
Rayong 72 33.1a 32.0a
TMEB419 (HN1) (ITTHI1) 31.4ab 28.9ab
KU50 31.2ab 33.4a
SM 1669-5 28.0abc 28.9ab
CM 9912-167 27.6abc 31.6a
SM 2775-4 26.6abc 33.5a
GM 1263-6 23.3abc 30.0ab
SM 1127-8 21.8abc 29.1ab
Rayong 11 21.7abc 32.9a
IBA972205 (HN3) 16.3abc 24.0bc
IBA980581 (HN5) (ITTHI2)13.8bc 18.4c
IBA980505 (HN4) 11.9c 18.1c
IBA920057 (HN2) (ITTHI3)11.0c 20.1c
Clone/Variety
Yield
(t/ha)
Stat
Tukey's
test
Strach
Content
(%)
Stat
Tukey's
test
Rayong 72 38.9a 34.4a
KU50 38.0ab 35.1a
SM 2775-2 37.0abc 30.6abc
TMEB419 (HN1) (ITTHI1) 36.2abcd 30.5abc
CM 9912-167 35.6abcd 29.8abc
Rayong 11 33.0abcd 32.7abc
GM 1263-6 30.9abcd 33.0abc
SM 1669-5 26.8abcd 33.4ab
IBA972205 (HN3) 26.0abcd 27.8abcd
SM 1127-8 25.0abcd 31.1abc
SM 2775-4 25.0abcd 32.9abc
IBA920057 (HN2) (ITTHI3) 22.4bcd 27.0bcde
IBA980505 (HN5) (ITTHI2) 21.1cd 22.9e
IBA980581 (HN4) 20.4d 24.1cde
LaoNgam District, SalavanThateng District, Sekong

57. 1(1) 6-8 (1) 10 (3) 20-25 (3) 20-25 (3) and “n” locations
Single plantSingle rowPYT AYT UYT

58. Pop. 1
Pop. 2
Pop. 3
Pop. 4
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 …
Three Populations of Cycle 1 in the Field in 2024
Crossing in 2020

59. Ongoing breeding for CMD resistance in Vietnam
Preliminary yield trial
(come to Laos/Cambodia in 2026)
Advanced yield trial
(come to Laos/Cambodia in 2025)

60. Cassava Witches Broom Disease

61. Cassava Witches Broom Disease

62. CWBD causal pathogen is likely a fungus not Phytoplasma
a b c
d
e f
Sporulation of cassava Ceratobasidium on KU50 plant and shape of fungal structures.
Arinaitwe et al… ( Manuscript in prep)

63. Latest data show that both fungus causing CWBD and
cacao vascular streak disease may be related
Cacao VSD
CWBD
•Both diseases develop epicormic shoots leading to a broom-like phenotype
•Incubation of both diseases takes 4-5 months
•Infections occur in wet and humid conditions and symptoms appear in the dry season

64. Seed system development

65. 1. Farmer seed 2. KU 50 3. KU 50 – clean seed
Understanding demand WTP stem auctions

66. Trader networks
CMD resistance - 13 provinces in 2 years
Improved variety exchange – 4 traders

67. Enhanced capacity in tissue culture labs and strengthen
network between the national labs in the region

70. Public and Private multiplication partnerships
National government Provincial government Universities
Private sector traders Associations

71. Tunnels constructed
#Name Place Funder
1Hanoi Nat. Uni.Hanoi Public
4Private tradersVientiane Private/Winrock/USDA
6NAFRI Vientiane Public
4PDAFF Banteay MeancheyPublic
10Khounsub Paksong Private
6LCA Laongarm Winrock/USDA
3Skyvision Thateng Private
4PDAFF Stung Treng Public
4Company Dak Lak Private
4GDA Chamkar Leu Public
4Private tradersTay Ninh Private
4HLARC Hung Loc Public
54 + 4 screenhouses
Other infrastructure
Screenhouse - GDA
(Chamkar Leu)
Screenhouse (2) – CARDI
(Phnom Penh)
Fibercell - LCA
(Laongarm)
Fibercell - CARDI
(Phnom Penh)
Screenhouse - Future Stems
(Vientiane)
Cassava rapid multiplication tunnels in Asia (Sep. 2023)

73. Linking to farmer and industry social networks – this is the
future of extension: great opportunities and potential risks

74. Fertility management and appropriate use of
fertiliser

75. Where is cassava being grown in Laos?

76. Years of cassava cultivation on 594 plots in Lao PDR by province

77. Did you apply fertilizer to your cassava?
(2022-2023 season, 319 farmers)

79. Fertiliser x density demonstration trial
August 2020 October 2021

80. Fertiliser demonstration

81. Farmers' fields in Bolikhan District

83. Kenthao District example of marginal rate of
return (MRR)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Control
40N-10P-0K
40N-10P-40K
N-P-K (15-15-15)
80N-40P-80K
40N-10P-40K+Manure (5t/ha)
Kenthao
Starch yield (t/ha)
Both KU50 Rayong 11
MRR =85%
MRR =119%
Price = 500kip/kg

84. Economic results of demonstrations
District Paklai Kenthao Bolikan Viengthong
Yield without fertiliser
(t/ha) 27.8 24.8 12.3 26.4
Yield with fertiliser (t/ha)37.2 36.8 21.1 29.7
Difference (t/ha) 9.5 12.0 8.8 3.3
Current price (kip/kg) 540 540 540 500
Cost fertiliser (kip/ha) 1,320,000 1,320,000 1,320,000 1,320,000
2019 cassava root price (500kip/kg)
Marginal Net Benefits
(kip/ha) 3,785,333 5,140,667 3,428,240 313,796
MRR (%) 286.8% 389.4% 259.7% 23.8%
Low cassava root price: 300 kip per ton
Marginal Net Benefits
(kip/ha) 1,516,296 2,269,259 1,317,911 - 339,722
MRR (%) 114.9% 171.9% 99.8% -25.7%

85. Fertility management
Exchange rates and rising input costs – but still a good economic return to better managed crop
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Jan-20 Apr-20 Jul-20 Oct-20 Jan-21 Apr-21 Jul-21 Oct-21
Jan-22 Apr-22 Jul-22 Oct-22
Index (Jan 2020=100)
Thai Urea (THB)Thai KCL (THB)KCL (LAK)
Thai Roots (THB)Thai Roots (LAK)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Bolikhan Thathom Viengthong
Yield (t/ha)
None
14-7-35
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Bolikhan Thathom Viengthong
Net benefits of changed management
(Million LAK)
None
14-7-35
MRR=400%MRR=370%MRR=28%
Price = 850 LAK/KG (Jan 2023)

86. The challenge continues
•The economics of the use of a relatively small amount of the appropriate balanced NPK
fertilizer has a significant impact on yield and provides an attractive economic
return………low levels of changed practices
•Appropriate fertilizer not available in local markets or even Province capitals
•Poor understanding of different fertilizer (NPK) and calculations.
•Limited knowledge on rates, timing, application techniques
•Policy confusion on the use of fertilizer
•targeting the organic market segment
•Changed behavior with respect to savings and expenditure between seasons

87. Cropping systems

88. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing
over and over again and expecting a different result.
Unless the context has changed…

89. A rethink and co-design for sustainable land
management for the current context
•Previous practices for land management were largely
developed in a context that no longer exists:
•Non-farm and off-farm employment resulting in high
opportunity costs of labour
•Mechanization and contract services
•Enhanced market access and connectivity
•Changing livestock management
•This is not a unique story for cassava
•Low donor investment in the cassava sector
•Challenges to induce change through product
differentiation relative to other crops (coffee, cashews)
•But some opportunities to exist particularly in the higher value
starch markets

91. Conclusion
•Cassava in Southeast Asia is one regional cassava economy, impacted by global context within a
range of substitute markets
•Maintaining productivity in essential for the smallholder industry to remain competitive in many
applications
•Climate change coupled with pest and disease is impacting local supply – rising prices
•Low adoption of many production technologies, especially beyond improved varieties
•Sustainable production and sourcing is going to become an increasingly important factor for market
access – particularly for high value markets – but current small market segment
•Poor data and limited analysis impacts investment decisions by farmers, industry and governments
•New opportunities for linking to smallholder farmers through social media, but need to ensure the
quality of information.
•Better planning based on realistic expectations on what the Private sector and Public sector has the
capacity and incentive to deliver

92. Opportunities
•Support improved planning and investment across scales
•National level industry strategy
•Local value (multiple province) chain level planning – match investment approvals and supply
•Village level (or multiple village) planning and enforcement of protected areas
•Satellites; mapping, agreements, niche market development
•Farm level planning – decision support tools
•Market information; production options; historical tracking; soil analysis
•Multilocation evaluations and seed system development
•Network of evaluation and multiplication of healthy planting material (public-private partnerships)
•Appropriate fertilizer use and agrochemicals
•Availability, decision support; financial tools (savings); behavioral change, policy engagement
•Alternative cropping systems – crop-livestock systems
•Market development; seed systems; credit…..
•Maintain a regional view – surveillance, germplasm sharing, market information
•Initiate a response in the Indo-Pacific in the direct food market segments.

93. Thanks!
Contact: Jonathan Newby – [email protected]