Household and collective natural resource management practices towards household food security in Luang Prabang Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Determining the natural resource management practices of the people contributes towards improving food security status. Despite this importance, there has been no empirical study to assess the natural resource management practices and food security in Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR. This research aimed to analyze the household and collective natural resource management practices (NRM) towards household food security in this province, particularly in Hadsangorn and Hadhouay Villages, the chosen study sites of this study. Using a survey questionnaire, data were obtained from 163 respondents. Descriptive statistics were employed and then analysis of variables using Spearman's rho and stepwise regression were done to analyze the relationship between the household level and collective NRM practices and household food security of the respondents. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also conducted to confirm and support the data obtained from the survey. Findings show that the respondents are mostly middle aged, females, married, natives in the study sites, and have attained basic education. Their households are patriarchal and have an average of around six members. They are mainly agricultural but land for agriculture is insufficient. They practice family-based and husband-wife partnership agriculture, yet they still live below the poverty line as reflected in their monthly incomes. Their awareness about existing soil, forest, and water resource policies is insufficient and they stated these policies are moderately implemented. Governance of soil, water, and forest resources is systematic because it follows the project life cycle. However, their inconsistent and scattered responses in regularity of planning, monitoring, and evaluation entails uncertain information about soil, forest, and water resource policies that are being implemented in the study sites. In the household level and collective NRM practices need further strengthening because soil, forest, and water resource management are moderately practiced which entails moderate household and collective effort in RM. As food accessibility, availability, utilization and stability did not reach the full level of the respondents' agreement, they are therefore in modest level. The study sites therefore are not sufficiently food secure. The correlation and stepwise regression analyses were able to identify and streamline the NRM practices that need to be focused on so that food security will be further achieved. The study recommended NM strategies to achieve household food security and these strategies are grounded on the respondents' NRM practices and priorities.