Laos: agriculture in context.

Laos was among the 27 countries and territories named in WFA’s founding initiative. The association’s first international conference took place on 15–16 December 2022 in Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.

The founding network connected agricultural communities across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas around cooperation, practical knowledge and farmer livelihoods.

The figures above describe land use, work and primary production. Agricultural land includes permanent pasture as well as arable land and permanent crops. Employment covers agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing and uses a modeled ILO estimate.

The land-use figure is from 2024; employment and value added are from 2025. Each percentage has a different denominator: land area, total employment or GDP. Value added deducts intermediate inputs from output; it is a share of the economy, rather than a growth rate or measure of farm income.

Food manufacturing, distribution and retail can create additional work and value outside the agriculture category. Following those activities helps explain how primary production connects with the wider food economy.

Laos’s large agricultural employment share makes everyday producer services a useful focus for discussion. Advice, collection, storage and equipment access each answer a different need. Before arranging a shared service, identify who will use it, when demand will arise and how much it will cost to operate.

Transparent rules can explain access, payments, maintenance and decision-making. A manageable first service lets participants learn about usage and recurring costs before expanding it. Listening to producers is essential: a country employment share shows the importance of agricultural work, while people using a service can explain what would make it useful.

The linked World Bank country profile brings together economic, social and environmental information. Read the historical series alongside recent experience from farmers, producer organizations, researchers and public agencies. Together, they can help define the resources, skills, costs and market requirements behind a local agricultural decision.