Maize production in Laos
Economic liberalization and the 'maize boom'
Since the mid-1980s, the government of Laos has promoted a gradual liberalization of the national economy. Among the set of reforms advocated, the development of intensive market-oriented agriculture was identified as a key stage in the transition towards a market economy. As a result of market integration and policy incentives, total annual maize production increased tenfold between 2000 and 2009 – from 117,000 to 1,130,000 tons. Under the direct influence of the market demand for maize in neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, the two study regions have played a particularly strong role in the Laotian 'maize boom'.
The figure above shows the rapid evolution of maize production (in tons per year) in Laos and the "maize boom" starting around the years 2004-2005. At the forefront of this process, Sayaboury Province has become the first maize production zone of the country and an important supplier of the Thai animal feed and food processing industry. In 2012, Xieng Khouang Province constituted the second production zone with exports primarily oriented towards Vietnam.
