Driving south from Vientiane, capital of Lao PDR, for about 600 kilometers, our team arrived at ‘Baan Phailom’ (meaning the village that is surrounded by bamboo trees in Lao language). Located in the central province of Savannakhet, Baan Phailom is a remote and small farming community of about 100 households. The farmers grow rice and raise livestock for their livelihoods. The main source of household income is agriculture, including rice cultivation as well as livestock, fisheries and forest products. [1]

In recent years, Baan Phailom farmers have been experiencing frequent drought and crop damage from pests and diseases causing food shortages. Many villages have suffered hunger and malnutrition due to these impacts that are exacerbated by poor irrigation facilities. [2]

These farmers have recently been involved in a project to take and share photos of their livelihoods and to convey the impacts of climate change.

Given the serious climate challenges in Baan Phailom, the farmers were invited to participate in the Climate Smart Villages (CSV) project. CSV sites are where researchers, local partner organizations, and local farmers come together to evaluate problems, discuss existing resources available, and seek solutions. CSV aims to build farmers’ resilience to climate risks, adapt to climate change, reduce greenhouse gases emission, and generate more income for farmers.

Prior to achieving these goals, local farmers need to become aware of the climate change impacts on their livelihoods. This is done by introducing the farmers to the ‘photovoice’ tool.

Photovoice is a communication tool that utilizes photographs and videos to represent key issues affecting vulnerable groups. Implementing photovoice in a Lao community is a new and innovative approach to seeking climate adaptation solutions. The activity is also empowering as the local farmers can participate in, and see the benefit of, the project, similar to participatory research.

The project distributed cameras to the farmers and taught them to take photos around their villages, their farms, and surrounding areas to capture everyday scenes and activities. Selected photos were used in creating an individual storyboard with the narratives, and especially focusing on any climate-related impacts or issues.

Farmers also used photovoice to express concerns about their lives and livelihoods to policymakers and researchers. This activity helps to initiate a dialogue between the different groups in prioritizing adaptation solutions to pressing climate change problems.

A dialogue was held between farmers, concerned government agencies and researchers, where farmers presented their photovoice storyboard, followed by questions and answers from the participants. At the end of the dialogue, different government agencies proposed various solutions to the problem. For example, an irrigation project is being planned to connect Baan Phailom and neighboring villages to cope with water scarcity problem. This project became known only due to the photovoice dialogue; policy makers expressed confidence that the irrigation project will reach Baan Phailom village and water scarcity will be alleviated.

“Photovoice is important for farmers because they can communicate their problems in the village directly to the government agencies,” said Ms. Lamphai, a 45-year-old who is the leader of the Woman’s Union in Baan Phailom.

In addition, Baan Phailom is the only village where farmers are now practicing climate-smart agriculture through their community-based seed production. Their rice varieties are flood and drought resistant. Baan Phailom farmers recently experienced a remarkable increase in rice yield; at the end of the cropping season estimated to be from three tons per hectare to approximately five tons per hectare (1 hectare =10,000 square meters).

The farmers took photos, drew pictures, and built their photovoice storyboard to share their stories with other farmers. The entire group sat down to listen to their climate change challenges under the bamboo trees. Most participants in the photovoice activity were men as women felt less inclined to join.

Due to the photovoice activities, local farmers have gained more confidence and ability to communicate about the climate impacts on their livelihoods among other farmers as well as to Lao policymakers.

Note

The Ban Phailom farmers in Laos have been participating in the Climate Smart Villages (CSV) initiative under Climate Change of Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) Program. The CSV initiative is led by the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). It is being implemented in Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR.

References

[1] Villanueva J, Mienmany C, Souvannaxayyavong S, Phonevisay S, Xayachack A, Keophoxay A, Khodyhoth K, Ferrer A, Yen BT. 2015. Villages Baseline Study: Site Analysis Report for Ekxang Village, Lao PDR. Copenhagen, Denmark: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Download at https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10568/80495/VBS_Pailom%20report.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
[2] Villanueva J, Mienmany C, Souvannaxayyavong S, Phonevisay S, Xayachack A, Keophoxay A, Khodyhoth K, Ferrer A, Yen BT. 2015. Villages Baseline Study: Site Analysis Report for Ekxang Village, Lao PDR. Copenhagen, Denmark: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Download at https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10568/80495/VBS_Pailom%20report.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y