1. Impact of cross visits and other factors on farmer decision making and livestock production in four districts

2. Purpose of study How much influence the cross visit had on farmers What other factors influenced farmers The most important influences What changes they have made What benefits they have had What they plan to do in the future Whether they have influenced other farmers (eg poor farmers)

3. Farmer Interview Questions Name, ethnic group, family members, livestock numbers What cross visit did you attend and what did you see? What changes have you made to livestock management in the last 2 years since the cross visit? What influenced you to make these change? Which were the most important influences? What do you plan to do in the future? Have you influenced other farmers?

4. 25 farmers (9 women) in 4 districts of 3 provinces (50% of all farmers attending cross visits in 2007 and 2008). All poor to medium wealth. Cross Visit KounPhone xai Vieng thong ViengxaiTotal 20072423 (1F)11 20085 (1F)-4 F4 F3 F12 New farmers 1125

5. Lao lum 5 f amilies Hmong 8 families Khamu 7 families Thaideng 4 families Phouane 1 families Ethnic Groups Lao lum 5 f amilies Hmong 8 families Khamu 7 families Thaideng 4 families Phouane 1 families

6. What changes have the farmers made to livestock management in the last 2 years? 1. Improved backyard pasture management Pasture growing (grasses and stylo) Cut and carry system Ruminant feeding by mixing grasses,styl o and stylo Pigs and poultry feeding by mixing rice bran,cassava root and stylo

7. 2. Improved Livestock production Animals health care Animals fattening Breeding selection Improve d animals housing Animals marketin g Manure collecting

8. Family income from livestock changes Total 257,998,000 kip for all 25 families in last 2 years Average 10,319,920 kip per family Range (3 to 29 million kip) Expenditure items. Animals. House construction. Hand tractor. Paddy rice stocks. Rice field land. Motor cycle. Furniture. School. Clothes. Medicine

9. What influenced the farmers to make these changes? Motivation to improve their livelihood Looking at host farmers activities at cross visit Discussing with host farmers and sharing knowledge and experiences District staff advice on how to do and follow up Lao govt. policy to reduce SC and poverty Trainin g Courses and other projects Family relatives and friends

10. Farmer ideas and ongoing learning Feed formula for pigs and poultry (stylo, grasses and cassava root) Vaccination, antibiotic treatment and parasite de-worming Improved Cassava mill machine New slicing equipment for cutting grasses, stylo and cassava

11. Activities planned in the future Increasing pasture areas and feeding system Increasing the animal numbers and management Increasing family income and reduce poverty Expanding the new technologies to new farmers

12. Level of influence on other farmers 100 other farmers have used advice and examples from these farmers Some farmers are more active than others Two poor farmers interviewed had been influenced by cousins that had attended the cross visits. Some poor farmers can learn from medium wealth farmers

13. Conclusions Cross visits can stimulate farmer motivation to improve their livestock production and reduce shifting cultivation. District staff need to follow up with regular advice. Poor families can learn from medium wealth families, especially if relative or friends. Farmers need follow up training courses to keep learning about livestock management. Design learning activities for poor families, women and each ethnic group separately.

14. Thank you