Laos’s country report

1. Introduction

Agricultural production is one of the most important sectors of the Lao economy. It contributed 43% to the national gross domestic production (2005), and employs about 80% of total labor force. Its contribution to national export is approximately 37%.

Rice is the staple food crop and occupies 73% of the total harvested areas. Among the three rice growing environments, the rainfed lowland rice occupies the largest areas accounting for 75% of total rice areas, dry season irrigated rice, accounting for 10% and upland rice, accounting for 15%. Annual rice production is greatly fluctuated due to its rainfed-based condition, and is at risk of disaster such as drought and flooding, pest and disease infestations. The production is still based on family subsistence style with application of modest inputs and under developed market economy.

In implementing the 5th Economic Development Plan 2001-2005 of the government, specifically in the agriculture sector, about 60% and 100 of rice HYV was introduced and spread out in many rice growing areas of the rainfed and irrigated dry season of lowland rice respectively. It contributed a big part in improving rice production in Laos with self-sufficiency ratio of 130%.

To strengthen the rice production and to improve Lao rice quality in the whole country, apart from the expansion of wet season and irrigated rice areas and the expansion of HYV, the Lao government strongly promoted the farmers to renew the rice seed.

In implementing the AFDP 2006-2010, NAFRI has ready to release some HYV for both RLL and ILL rice and the foundation seed multiplication is undertaking. NAFES has developed the extension network in different provinces which responsible for registered and certified seed production at provincial level.

2. Rice Production in Laos

As mentioned above, rice is the most import staple food of Lao people grown through the country at 100-1200 meters from sea level (ASL) under different growing ecosystem conditions and grouped in 3 ecosystems, rainfed lowland (RLL) rainfed upland land (RUL), and irrigated lowland (ILL) rice account for 728,635, 118,125 and 92,340 hectares with production 2,734,970, 240,440 and 439,150 tons and yield 4.00, 2.08 and 4.76 respectively (2013). Planted areas and production of RUL, RLL and ILL of selected year shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Panted Rice Area, Production and yield in the Lao PDR for Selected Year 2013

Year 2013

Planted Areas ( ha)

Production ( tons)

Yield (t/ha)

Rainfed Lowland- Northern- Central- Southern- total

105,459407,255215,921728,635

476,7201,543,580

714,6702,734,970

4.593.983.74

4.1Rainfed upland

- Northern- Central- Southern- total

87,50521,490

9,130118,125

182,10042,66015,680

240,440

2.112.001.912.01

Irrigated (DS**)- Northern- Central- Southern- total

8,75566,80016,78592,340

39,460320,620

79,070439,150

4.514.804.714.67

Data Source: MAF, National Statistic Center

2.1.Rainfed upland rice: RUL rice is popular in the mountainous areas of northern and some small areas in central and southern provinces. Based on cultural practice the upland rice is distinctly divided in 3 types: (1) pioneering slash and burn rice shifting cultivation method, practiced by Hmong (Lao sung) and Kmu (Lao theuang) peoples with 5-10 households segregated in the remote areas, cropping period in 2-3 years without any fallow. Rice is mixed with maize, vegetables and sesame. When the primary and secondary forests are cleared/or crop production tends to decline they move the village to the new place with dense forests. (2) The rotational rice shifting cultivation is mainly practiced by Lao lum, Laotheuang and Lao sung people, rotated field around sedentary villages with cropping period 1-2 years then fallowed 4-6 years; main crop is rice mixed with maize, vegetables, sesame, grains legumes, melon and jobs tear. And (3) the upland permanent field practiced mainly in the 4 southeast districts of Sayabouly province, the rice crop was rotated with maize, grain legume and other cash crops which depend on local market’s demand. Almost all the seed the farmer keep by themselves for generation by generation, except in 4 southeast districts of Sayabouly province some cash crop seeds change year by year.

2.2.Rainfed Lowland Rice: More than 85% of the total RLL rice areas are in the central and southern provinces, consisting of 7 main plains for rice producing in Laos. The remaining of lowland areas are scattered in large and narrow valleys, under small plains with scale 2000-3000 hectares and terracing, with elevation 300-1000 meters ASL .The RLL rice environment of Laos can be classified as shallow rainfed and be further subdivided into 4 categories: favorable (10%), drought prone (60%), drought and submergence prone (20%) and submergence (10%). The adoption of new improved rice varieties is approximately 60% of total RL rice areas, mainly in the plains along the valley of Mekong River.

2.3.Irrigated Season Rice: In the ILL rice environment, 64% and 27% of total areas is accounted for by the central and southern provinces supplied with water from the Mekong River and its tributaries and the remaining are in the north where almost all water supply is from the mountains. The adoption of new HYV is nearly accounted for by 100%, accepted some small areas of Huaphanh province which use Khao chien the traditional variety due to it is

tolerance to low temperature. The ILL rice production is still faced with many problems such as the occasional outbreak of brown plant hopper, heavy rain in the late part of growing season, which strongly affects grain quality of dry season rice. In Northern provinces low temperature in early part of growing season is considered as a major production constraint.

In the Lowland rice environment, apart from the local variety, 21 glutinous HYV were released by the rice research program in period 1991-2006, 5 introduced from Thai Rice Department (RD) and 1 non-glutinous from Vietnam are recommended for use (Table 2).

Table 2: Recommended Rice Variety for the Lowland Rice Environment in Laos.

Variety origin Variety name

Naphok Agricultural Research Center TDK1, TDK2, TDK3, TDK4, TDK5, TDK6, TDK7, TDK8, TDK9, TDK10, TDK11; Kainoi and Homnang nouane (centered rice)

Thasano Rice Research and Seed Multiplication Center

TSN1, TSN2, TSN3 and TSN4

Phone ngam Rice Research and Seed Multiplication Center

PNG1, PNG2, PNG5 and PNG6

Namtan Rice Research and Seed Multiplication Station

NTN1

Luang namta Rice Research and Seed Multiplication Station

NTH1

Thai Rice Department RD6, RD8, RD10, RD15, Khao dok mali 105 (centered rice)

Vietnam CR203

TDK: Thadokkham; TSN: Thasano; PNG: Phone ngam; NTN: Namtan; NTH: Namtha

Figure 1 and Figure 2; and the seed distribution by different stations is shown in Table 3.

Figure 1: The SMS’s location in the Lao PDR

Breeder Seed

Foundation Seed

Registered Seed

Certified Seed

Production:

Ordinary Farmers

Seed Multiplication System

Responsible Organization

N-ARC, TSN-SMC, PNG-SMC, LNT-SMS

N-ARC, TSN-SMC, PNG-SMC, LNT-SMS

TSN-SMC, PNG-SMC, LNT-SMC, SMS, PAFO/DAFEO

SMS, PAFO/DAFEO

Figure 2: Current Seed Multiplication System

Rice Seed Multiplication Constraints:

However, the Lao Government strongly promoted adoption the HYV, some seed multiplication centers were established in some main target areas of rice production in the country; but were less effective due to faced with some main problems as below:

o The R2 and R3 seed production without ordering demand system leads to the SMC producing the seed with low potential

o R3 seed not systematic after distributed and about more than 60% used as consumption rice.

o Seed contaminated with fusarium moniliformeo Poor of renewing the seed system, the farmers keep the seed by themselves more than 10

generations of growing season o Lack of seed production system at PAFO and DAFEO level and also lack of experienced

technicians to produce R2 and R3 seedo In the main SMC such as N-SMC, TSN-SMC and PNG-SMC lack of technicians experienced on

machines processing caused poor maintainingo The seed processing machines at N-SMC, TSN-SMC and PNG-SMC are too aged and difficult

to find spare parts o In the main SMC such as N-SMC, TSN-SMC and PNG-SMC lack of technicians experienced on

seed quality test and poor equipment o Functioning fund for seed production with high credit by 21% a year leads to deficiency o Shortage in transplanting and harvesting labor

3. Rice Seed Multiplication Strategy

To the year 2010, apart from the improving rice production, the improving of Lao rice quality is an important priority through the dissemination of good seed to main targets of rice growing areas such as 7 main plains in central and southern region, and small plains in northern region. Approximately 45-50, 3000, and 55,000-60,000 tons of R1, R2 and R3 seed to be annually produced respectively.

The National Agriculture and Forestry Science and Technology Research Institute (NAFRI) to be responsible for identification of suitable variety for each region, breeder seed and R1 seed production; to be produced by 4 centers namely N-ARC, TSN-SMC, PNG-SMC and LNT-SMC. The National Agriculture and Forestry Extension Service (NAFES) responsible for R2 and R3 seed production, implemented by SMS and PAFO/DAFEO in collaboration with different CRDP, private sectors in participatory of farmers. Specific for R3 seed production to be conducted on farmer field in organizing a special group of farmers in the villages through the country in main target areas of rice production. The seed multiplication system and distribution are shown in Figure 3 and Table 4. The rice seed requirement of HYV released by Rice Research Program in the year 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 is shown in Table 5.

Table 4: R1 and R2 Seed Distribution Plan of 4 Main Research Centers

Research Center Responsibility

LNT-SMC (R1 & R2) Luang namtha, Bokeo, Phong saly and Oudomxai provinces

N-ARC (R1) N-SMC, Vientiane Capital (NH-SMC and Km 6), Vientiane province (PC-SMS), Bolikhamxai (TK-SMS) Luang prabang, Xieng khouang and Houaphanh provinces

TSN-SMC (R1 & R2) Savannakhet, Khammoune (VP-SMS) and Saravane provinces (ND-SMS)

PNG-SMC (R1& R2) Champasack, Saravane provinces (ND-SMS), Sekong and Attapeu provinces

4. project result summary

4.1. Study sites & monitoring methods The experiment of yellow sticky trap was conducted in Phontong village,

Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR. This. There were three replications, and use improved rice (TDK6) to plant. There have more than 1 km space between replication.

Light trap was conducted in the Agricultural Research Center. There have to catch insects every day and all of insects were analyzed in the laboratory, and this activity continued forever.

The procedure for sampling of virus-infected rice samples was started from 2014 to 2015 of every season. This work used 90% of alcohol, glass tube and materials for catch hoppers. All provinces in the country, where are planted rice were conducted.

4.2. Materials and methods

Yellow sticky trap. Data code consists of the followings

Experimental stations were selected in three places; there is one kilometer between each place. First site is in the experimental site of center, second one is in the rice seed production of the center and last site is in the farmer’s rice field so these sites are the same with last season. The seedling plot was conducted in one place of rice seed production. The name of variety is TDK6, it is improve rice of the center. This variety was susceptible rice to damage from BPH. This experiment was collected data in weekly after one week of transplanting.

Light Trap

This work was started from 1, January, 2015 up to 30, December 2015. Almost of data was recorded in data sheet (excel file). There had three stations of light trap, luangnamtha rice research center in the Northern part of the country, Saravan rice research center in the Southern part of the country, and Agricultural research center in the middle part of the country. However, this work was continued forever.

Luangnamtha Province Vientiane Capital Saravan Province

Sampling of virus-infected rice samplesThe procedure for sampling of virus-infected rice samples was started from 1,

January 2015 to 30, December 2015 of every season. This work used 90% of alcohol, glass tube and materials for catch hoppers. All provinces in the country, where are planted rice were conducted.

4.3. Research results4.3.1. Monitoring of planthoppers with light trap

Type of insectsWeeks

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th BPH 9 7 8 6 11 12 12 10 6 12WBPH 11 12 20 23 6 6 11 5 7 14SBPH 1 2 2 3 3 7Spiders 1 2 16 2 8 6 4 11 8 10Predators 1 2 1 4

4.3.2. Monitoring of planthoppers with yellow sticky traps

4.3.3. Planthoppers or virus outbreak records in historyThere had no more serious of Planthoppers or virus outbreak in every part of rice plant

areas about (GPH, BPH, WPH and ZPH), there had only more population of Green planthopper but they didn’t damage rice plant.

The peak migration time in planthoppers

The peak migration time in planthopper was from half February to last March, but it was not serious in the rice field.

The peak occurrence time in rice viruses

There had not the peak occurrence time in rice viruses in rice plant areas.

Pest control methods & pesticides used

In every season, the majority of farmers had only to try control Golden Apple Snail, they used botanical pesticides that import from Thailand to control it, whereas the planthopper had not to do because it was not more spread out to rice field.

5. Information on Pesticides Usage and Levels.

Farmers represent some 80 percent of the population in the Lao PDR and, according to the National

Poverty Eradication Program, nearly of 80 percent of these farmers rely on subsistence agriculture.

The use of agro-chemicals is generally not considered a major problem in Laos because the amount

and variety of pesticide is widely seen as relatively low, particularly in comparison to other countries

in the region. However, to date, there have been no systematic studies to assess this situation, and

several elements justify looking at this issue in more details. The fact that these banned products

were reported as use by farmers more than they were seen in the larger shops might lead us to

speculate that they are often not displayed openly. The first four products in the table, Furadan,

Folidon, Karate, Ambush, Panadon and Lannate, constitute the “hit-parade” of preferred pesticides

in Laos. Each was reported as use in all of the country.

Management and inspection

Pesticide management and inspection sections comprises of:

Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office

District of Agriculture and Forestry Office

These three sections will assign staff to a pesticide inspection unit which will include trained staff on

pesticide management from DOA.

Inspection of pesticide refers to monitoring of pesticide manufacturing process,

import-export, sale, distribution, advertising, storage, use of pesticides, and disposal

of expired pesticide or pesticide waste including empty containers for compliance

with lows of Lao PDR. This also applies to individual farms, concession farms,

government and private farm.

6. 2016 Project plan

- Continue to Survey for rice planthoper and viruses infection rice plant, conduct

yellow sticky trap and light trap.

- Will publish as newspaper, newsletter, booklets, etc of the research products from

2015 IPM project to every part of the country, especially the locations where rice

productions have.