Xayaboury province's Paklai district is set to be the first nationwide to officially cease all shifting cultivation, while other districts in provinces around the country are preparing to make similar declarations by the end of this year.
According to government plans issued through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, farmers in all provinces should end shifting cultivation this year, though this is not necessarily achievable in reality, Director of the Shifting Cultivation and Stratification Division, Mr Boualy Phameaung, told Vientiane Times on Tuesday.
More than 160 villages, out of a total of 448, in Xayaboury province have been confirmed as free from shifting cultivation and in July provincial authorities will declare Hongsa, Botaen and Kaentao districts as free of the traditional farming method.
Luang Prabang, Pak-ou and Xiengngeun districts in Luang Prabang province are set for a similar announcement in the coming months, said Mr Boualy.
That province now has 297 villages, or 45 percent of its total of 798 villages, free of shifting cultivation.
Authorities in Oudomxay and Phongsaly provinces are focusing on achieving similar outcomes in Xay and Bounneua districts respectively, he said.
Mr Boualy expects that Bounneua district will be confirmed as free from shifting cultivation next month.
Luang Namtha province will soon declare two villages in Namtha district free of the practice, to be followed by Phaoudom district in Bokeo province.
Authorities in Borikhamxay province are working to eliminate the farming method in Thapabath, Pakxan and Pakkading districts, Mr Boualy said.
One village in Xepone district of Savannakhet province will soon be established as a model for others to follow in the campaign to eradicate shifting agriculture.
Declarations are also expected this year in Nonghet and Phoukhoun districts in Xieng Khuang province, as well as Thoulakhom district in Vientiane province, he said.
Samuoy district in Saravan province will be declared free of shifting agriculture by the end of this year, Mr Boualy said.
Eliminating shifting cultivation practices, including slash and burn, is a priority of the government in its efforts to reduce poverty amongst farmers.
Many provincial authorities are behind schedule and will not be able to meet targets this year, Mr Boualy said.
One reason for this is a lack of planning in previous years.
The division is trying to improve coordination mechanisms with provincial authorities, particularly Agriculture and Forestry Departments, to encourage farmers to halt shifting cultivation practices, he said.
