About 83% of the population of the Lao PDR is rural and 66% depend on subsistence agriculture. Organic agriculture has good potential, both for local consumption and the export market. Four different systems for organic production are common.
1) The upland fallow rotation (slash-and-burn) system the production is largely used for producing rice for home consumption, with jobs tear, sesame and maize the most important crops exported. Although not formally certified, they are often referred to as organically grown.;
2) Wild products collected in the forest and fallow lands for home consumption, local markets and for exports. Important products include bamboo shoot, banana inflorescence, and wild cardamom (Amomum sp);
3) Fruits, mostly produced without any external inputs, and
4) Market driven organic production.
The systems 1-3 are largely organic by default but products are usually not certified as organic.