Rural Development and Strategies for Sustainable Agrarian Livelihood : A Case Study of Ban Huaxieng, Xaithany District, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR

Abstract

This research aims to explore how rural development under the policy of market-oriented economy effects local people in terms of economic, social and cultural practices, and how they adapt themselves to those changes to sustain their livelihood strategies through focusing on Ban Huaxieng of Xaithany district as a case study. This study analyzes both primary data and secondary data and applies both quantitative and qualitative analysis methods. Four methods are applied for primary data: household survey, participant observation, life history and indepth interview. This research focuses on three main parts: first, Ban Huaxieng and policy implementation of rural development; second, livelihood diversification as new livelihood strategies; and third, changing social and cultural practices under development. As a result of analyzing this case study, two main findings are discovered. Firstly, diversification of livelihood is considered as new livelihood strategies under rural development along with the mechanism of market economy. Secondly, rural development can improve living condition but creates contradictions; particularly, development under the market mechanism has created unintended consequences, which can endanger some agrarian households’ sustainable livelihood.