Biogas digesters in small pig farming systems in Lao PDR: evidence of an impact

This study investigates whether pig farming contributes to both alleviating poverty and securing sustainable development in the rural communities of Laos, and if so, how. The findings presented in this paper are based on a field survey conducted among 205 households between 2009 and 2010 in a number of villages in Laos. The study provides a comparison of three pig farming systems, namely: pig farming with biogas digester installation; pig farming without biogas digester installation; and pig farming with a deep bedding system and using Effective Microorganism (EM) liquid. The findings clearly show that small scale traditional pig farming contributes to an increase in the income of households in rural Laos. However if traditional farming is integrated with modern techniques and is utilised in multipurpose activities such as producing biogas, the benefits are even broader which can be developed as a pathway to achieve sustainable development in rural Laos.