癒しの国ラオス68 貧困層からの脱出
田ウナギ料理↑(2007年8月2日、ビエンチャン特別市)(癒しの国ラオス67からの続き) ラオスで活動しているNPOの人からも同様の話を聞いたことがある。「貧困層は、土地がないことから貧困になっているのではなく、労働力がないことから米を作ることができない。それで貧困層から抜け出せない。新たに世帯を持ったりして労働力が確保できれば、土地は村から分け与えられるので土地はネックではない。 労働力が無い貧困層は、村内の米を持っている世帯に日雇いして米や現金を手に入れる。日雇いすると1日米4kg、あるいは現金2ドルになる。」(続く)【Bon appétit !】 ラオスの乾季作米の作付、目標以下 Rice crop suffering as dry season tightens its grip The dry season is again taking its toll on the rice crop and farmers around the country are struggling to meet production targets. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry had planned for farmers to plant 140,000 hectares of rice but so far they have planted only 92,300 hectares, or about 66 percent of the plan. The Irrigation Department had hoped to supply water to 140,000 hectares of rice and 40,000 hectares of other crops this dry season, but has only been able to channel water to 92,300 hectares of rice and 37,500 hectares of other crops. Another 15,900 hectares of farmland is lying fallow. As climate change takes effect and rainfall levels fluctuated in the wet season, the level of water in rivers and basins is lower than last dry season, according to the agriculture and forestry sector. Existing irrigation systems have not been able to supply sufficient water for rice cultivation due to these low levels. Some pumps are also not working to full capacity because many are at least 20 years old.