A Study on the Shift of Livelihood of Yao People in Uodomsin Village, Muengxing County, Luang Namtha, Laos

Abstract

This paper analyzes the process, causes and influence of the shift of livelihood of Yao people in Udomsin Village. The qualitative research methodology was employed, with content analysis. The study revealed that before the 1960s when Udomsin Yao people migrated to Thailand, they mainly lived on slash-and-burn shift farming as well as gathering forest products and hunting. After 1992, under the guidance of Lao policies on eliminating poverty and "alternative plants", local Yao people have commercialized farming products with large-scale of rubber plantation as the prevailing products. The shift of livelihood has improved local living standard.