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Gender analysis of economic land concessions in Cambodia and in Northern Laos: Case of rubber plantations
- For policymakers
- Summary created: 2022
This paper gives a gender analysis on the rubber land concessions in Cambodia and in Northern Laos.
Many reports pointed out the deprivation of land by such economic concessions in Cambodia. In Northern Laos, there are different types of contracts arrangements made between the companies, district offices and the communities as well as individual farmers. With the drastic decrease in rubber price, the relationships between the companies and the farmers are also changing.
Insights
In Cambodia, there was no option for farmers to have contracts with the company that took over from the land concessions, as the indigenous land use system was not recognised.
All villagers lost large chunks of their land, but women lost almost all of their land.
In Laos, arrangement have been diverse often dependent on difficulty of the terrain and complex local governance system.
Monocropping has negative impacts on communities, focusing on diverse plantation is important, but little research is being done on how to sustain communities in this manner.
In the case of Laos, where contracts are not being enforced.
What it means
In Cambodia, there was no option for farmers to have contracts with the company that took over from the land concessions, as the indigenous land use system was not recognised. All villagers lost large chunks of their land, but women lost almost all of their land. Women lost their customary land rights during the rubber concession and land registration. Loss of land has left women more housebound while men engage in wage labour.
In Laos, arrangement have been diverse often dependent on difficulty of the terrain and complex local governance system. Initial idea was good. However implementation has not gone smoothly. Rented out to a Chinese company which works faster and more efficiently but often leaves villagers left behind. More farmers planted rubber privately and they had more negotiation power with the company. Women’s work load increased, often engaging in wage labour, however their decision making power has not seemed to increase alongside workload.
In both cases the state facilitated the private company investment and land concessions.
Suggested next steps
Stop renting out economic concessions to private companies
Acknowledgements
Thank you to iDE Global
These insights were made available thanks to the support of iDE Global, who are committed to the dissemination of knowledge for all.
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