Journal of
Agricultural Extension and Rural Development

  • Abbreviation: J. Agric. Ext. Rural Dev
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2170
  • DOI: 10.5897/JAERD
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 489

Full Length Research Paper

People’s livelihood adaptation in rural resettlement projects in Laos

SINAVONG Phonevilay
  • SINAVONG Phonevilay
  • Regional and Rural Development Program, Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Accepted: 17 June 2013
  •  Published: 31 August 2013

Abstract

 

This paper clarified the state of livelihood adaptation of resettlers affected by the hydroelectric power development project, from five aspects of rural livelihood: Social, economic, physical, natural, and human aspects, in the central province of Laos. Findings revealed that each ethnic group has significantly different adaptation levels under each aspect of livelihood. Phong ethnic group has the highest level of physical (93.00%) and natural adaptation (78.50%) but has the lowest one in human adaptation (68.75%); Pao ethnic group has the highest level of social (21.86%) and human adaptation (82.07%) but has the lowest rate of physical (84.28%) and natural adaptation (48.59%), and Hmong ethnic group has the lowest one of social adaptation (12.45%) while the physical (85.66%), natural (53.76%) and human adaptation (77.24%) levels are the second highest among the three ethnic groups. Furthermore, among five aspects of livelihood adaptations in each ethnic group; it indicated that social adaptation is the lowest level, but physical adaptation is the highest level. Therefore, it can be concluded that social aspect of livelihood adaptation is the most difficult one for project affected people to adjust themselves to the new livelihood environment at the resettlement sites.

 

Key words: Livelihood adaptation, project affected people, rural resettlement, Laos.