system of rice intensification is popular among farmers
(KPL) The system of single rice plantation is gaining more popularity among farmers reflected by the increased practice and acreage by farmers.
The phenomena has explained that local farmers have switched from the old way of rice plantation into a new way so called “the system of rice intensification” (SRI), which is now applied to 3,740 ha.
The SRI gives a high output of rice, approximately 6-8 tonnes per hectare.
The current dry season rice cropping is made on 113,830 hectares, about 95 % of the target and 10,000 hectares more than to the previous year’s corresponding period.
Out of the total transplanted rice fields are 14,320 ha grown with the rice sowing method and 95,770 ha grown with the transplanting way.
In the current production season, more than 87,000 ha have been put under cash crops,.
However, the target of the current dry season rice cropping is not achieved since some farmers have turned to other economic crops with better results, for example, tobacco, maize and legumes, according to this week’s report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The dry-season rice crop practised beyond the target is reported in some provinces as follows: Phongsaly, Luang Namtha, Bokeo, Luang Prabang, Xiengkhouang, Vientiane and Champassak.
Despite the completed rice transplantation, the yield of rice is dependent on the care and tending, and timely harvest. As a result, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will dispatch more technicians to co-ordinate with the district agriculture and forestry services to further help local farmers in their care of rice farming processes.
In the recent instruction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, farmers should apply more organic fertilisers instead of chemical fertilisers. In the meantime, water shortage is looming, the central authorities in collaboration with local authorities and people should pool efforts in repairing irrigation facilities.
In particular, the flood-affected areas should be prioritised to assistance to rice plantation through the delivery of technical teams, rice seeds and loan release and other agricultural tools. Laos has a high potential of market-oriented agriculture which the Party and Government have given priority to foodstuff production. The government thus sets this year’s target of rice production at about 3.2-3.3 million tonnes.
back
