Rural road in Lao PDR defined as connecting road from village to main road, where it
will lead them to market and access to other economic and social service facilities.
However, due to mostly rural people accustom with subsistence farming, connecting
road seems less important for rural people as their main farming produce is for own
consumption rather than markets. After the introduction and implementation of
New Economic Mechanism (NEM) since 1986, many rural villages have gradually
developed and integrated into market system where people have significantly
changed their livelihood with a better system. This progress has significantly
contributed in improving income earning of people, better living standard and reduce
poverty. The paper aims to illustrate the significant of rural road as connecting road
from village to markets or a market access approach of farm produces. It also
demonstrates through which approach, rural farmers/people could improve their income
earning, develop their farming system, living standard and reduce poverty.