12 KKU Res. J. 2016; 21(1) KKU Res.j. 2016; 21(1) : 12-25 http://resjournal.kku.ac.th Food Diversity of Three Ethnic Groups: A Case Study from Xieng Khuang Province, Northern Lao PDR Sonemany Pathumphone 1 , Jirawat Sanitchon 2 , Anan Polthanee 3 and Arunee Promkhambut 4 1 Clean Agriculture Development and Food Processing Association, Lao PDR 2 Department of Plant Science and Agricultural Resource, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Thailand * Correspondent author: sonemanyph@gmail.com Abstract This qualitative research was carried out using formal key informant group discussions and household semi-structured interview. The objectives of the research were to evaluate food diversity and security of three ethnic groups at Nam Chat village, XiengKhuang province in northern Lao PDR, where the village includes three ethnic groups; Khmu, Hmong and Lao Loum. The study found that rice was the main staple food crop for three ethnic groups. However, Hmong and Khmu representing approximately 30% of total household in this village produced insuffcient rice for household consumption. Food was gathered from various kinds of cultivated crops and domestic livestock, and also included wild plants, wildlife aquatic animals and insects. The three ethnic groups consumed different quantities of food sources from crops or animal species, depending on specifc ethnic groups. The three ethnic groups earned household income both from crops and domestic animals, as well as from non-timber forest products and wildlife. Lao Loum received per capita income greater than Hmong and Khmu in the present study. Keywords : XiengKhuang Province, Shannon diversity index, Food diversity, Ethnic groups 1. Introduction The Lao PDR is a landlocked country that shares borders with the following fve countries namely Thailand, Myanmar, China, Vietnam and Cambodia. The total land of Lao PDR is about 236,800 km 2 and population of 6 million (1). Approximately 3% of the area is used for agriculture with rice as the main crop. Fallow lands in shifting cultivation (slash-and-burn agriculture) may account for another 6-10% of total land area (2). Approximately 77% of the population is rural and 60% of these people depend on subsistence agriculture (3). The population is ethnically diverse with more than 60 ethnic groups (4). All ethnic groups who live in hill areas are engaged in shifting cultivation. The northern part of Lao PDR is the region with the highest poverty rate in the country, particularly in remote mountainous areas where people earn less than 1 US dollar per