Market outlook for improved forage seed varieties in Northern Lao PDR
The Laotian livestock sector is transitioning from subsistence-based systems to modern, commercialised models, driven by the potential to integrate into growing regional markets. However, livestock rearing in northern Laos faces major structural challenges in cattle feeding, including low-quality an...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Ponencia |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176975 |
| _version_ | 1855531868112289792 |
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| author | Bravo, Aura Philp, Joshua Enciso, Valentina Pazos, Mateo Mponela, Powell López, Santiago Triana Ángel, Natalia Otieno, Mary Atieno Peters, Michael Burkart, Stefan |
| author_browse | Bravo, Aura Burkart, Stefan Enciso, Valentina López, Santiago Mponela, Powell Otieno, Mary Atieno Pazos, Mateo Peters, Michael Philp, Joshua Triana Ángel, Natalia |
| author_facet | Bravo, Aura Philp, Joshua Enciso, Valentina Pazos, Mateo Mponela, Powell López, Santiago Triana Ángel, Natalia Otieno, Mary Atieno Peters, Michael Burkart, Stefan |
| author_sort | Bravo, Aura |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | The Laotian livestock sector is transitioning from subsistence-based systems to modern, commercialised models, driven by the potential to integrate into growing regional markets. However, livestock rearing in northern Laos faces major structural challenges in cattle feeding, including low-quality and quantity feed, which limit smallholders’ ability to benefit from emerging market opportunities. To provide farmers with forage options for integrating in their productive, demonstration farms with improved forage varieties (grasses and legumes) have been conducted in three districts along Laos's north, central and south regions. While these demonstration farms have shown positive preferences among farmers, widespread adoption remains limited. In this context, understanding the forage seed market structure is crucial to fostering technology scaling. This study examines the forage seed market in northern Laos to identify opportunities for improved varieties to gain competitive market share, assess key competitors, and evaluate their influence. The findings aim to inform the strategies for governments, NGOs, and private sector actors to position forage seed varieties more efficiently, creating a favourable environment for farmers’ adoption. A qualitative, multistakeholder approach was applied using Porter's Five Forces framework, interviewing 39 stakeholders categorised as smallholder seed producers, traders, private companies, local authorities, and research institutions. Results indicate that although Laos plays an important role in the regional forage seed supply chain, particularly Ruzi (Urochloa ruziziensis) and Napier (Cenchrus purpureus) grasses, smallholder seed producers have limited pricing power due to informality and indirect competition with producers in Thailand and Cambodia. While artisanal seed production is technically feasible, the entry of improved varieties requires coordination, investment in adaptation trials, and producer training to propagate them. Thai multinationals dominate the market, with advantages in terms of scale, marketing, and distribution, which heighten entry barriers. Furthermore, despite their lower nutritional value and climate tolerance, native grasses remain dominant due to their low cost, availability, and low-input maintenance. To develop a sustainable, autonomous forage seed market for improved varieties, it is recommended to promote varieties that can be efficiently produced locally, facilitating access and strengthening distribution networks. Strategic alliances with large producers are also essential for market entry and early-stage demand creation. |
| format | Ponencia |
| id | CGSpace176975 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1769752025-11-05T12:10:03Z Market outlook for improved forage seed varieties in Northern Lao PDR Bravo, Aura Philp, Joshua Enciso, Valentina Pazos, Mateo Mponela, Powell López, Santiago Triana Ángel, Natalia Otieno, Mary Atieno Peters, Michael Burkart, Stefan seed systems value chains stakeholders market research investigación de mercados innovation scaling sistema de semillas leguminosa forrajera escalamiento de la innovación feed grasses gramínea forrajera cadena de valor parte interesada feed legumes The Laotian livestock sector is transitioning from subsistence-based systems to modern, commercialised models, driven by the potential to integrate into growing regional markets. However, livestock rearing in northern Laos faces major structural challenges in cattle feeding, including low-quality and quantity feed, which limit smallholders’ ability to benefit from emerging market opportunities. To provide farmers with forage options for integrating in their productive, demonstration farms with improved forage varieties (grasses and legumes) have been conducted in three districts along Laos's north, central and south regions. While these demonstration farms have shown positive preferences among farmers, widespread adoption remains limited. In this context, understanding the forage seed market structure is crucial to fostering technology scaling. This study examines the forage seed market in northern Laos to identify opportunities for improved varieties to gain competitive market share, assess key competitors, and evaluate their influence. The findings aim to inform the strategies for governments, NGOs, and private sector actors to position forage seed varieties more efficiently, creating a favourable environment for farmers’ adoption. A qualitative, multistakeholder approach was applied using Porter's Five Forces framework, interviewing 39 stakeholders categorised as smallholder seed producers, traders, private companies, local authorities, and research institutions. Results indicate that although Laos plays an important role in the regional forage seed supply chain, particularly Ruzi (Urochloa ruziziensis) and Napier (Cenchrus purpureus) grasses, smallholder seed producers have limited pricing power due to informality and indirect competition with producers in Thailand and Cambodia. While artisanal seed production is technically feasible, the entry of improved varieties requires coordination, investment in adaptation trials, and producer training to propagate them. Thai multinationals dominate the market, with advantages in terms of scale, marketing, and distribution, which heighten entry barriers. Furthermore, despite their lower nutritional value and climate tolerance, native grasses remain dominant due to their low cost, availability, and low-input maintenance. To develop a sustainable, autonomous forage seed market for improved varieties, it is recommended to promote varieties that can be efficiently produced locally, facilitating access and strengthening distribution networks. Strategic alliances with large producers are also essential for market entry and early-stage demand creation. 2025-09-11 2025-10-10T13:00:16Z 2025-10-10T13:00:16Z Presentation https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176975 en Open Access application/pdf Bravo, A.; Philp, J.; Enciso, V.; Pazos, M.; Mponela, P.; López, S.; Triana Ángel, N.; Otieno, M.A.; Peters, M.; Burkart, S. (2025) Market outlook for improved forage seed varieties in Northern Lao PDR. Presented at Tropentag 2025: Reconcile Land System Changes with Planetary Health. Bonn, Germany, 10-12 September 2025. 5 sl. |
| spellingShingle | seed systems value chains stakeholders market research investigación de mercados innovation scaling sistema de semillas leguminosa forrajera escalamiento de la innovación feed grasses gramínea forrajera cadena de valor parte interesada feed legumes Bravo, Aura Philp, Joshua Enciso, Valentina Pazos, Mateo Mponela, Powell López, Santiago Triana Ángel, Natalia Otieno, Mary Atieno Peters, Michael Burkart, Stefan Market outlook for improved forage seed varieties in Northern Lao PDR |
| title | Market outlook for improved forage seed varieties in Northern Lao PDR |
| title_full | Market outlook for improved forage seed varieties in Northern Lao PDR |
| title_fullStr | Market outlook for improved forage seed varieties in Northern Lao PDR |
| title_full_unstemmed | Market outlook for improved forage seed varieties in Northern Lao PDR |
| title_short | Market outlook for improved forage seed varieties in Northern Lao PDR |
| title_sort | market outlook for improved forage seed varieties in northern lao pdr |
| topic | seed systems value chains stakeholders market research investigación de mercados innovation scaling sistema de semillas leguminosa forrajera escalamiento de la innovación feed grasses gramínea forrajera cadena de valor parte interesada feed legumes |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176975 |
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