The Rice and Cash Crops Research Centre is studying varieties of rice that are resistant to drought after successful research into rice seeds that can withstand flooding.
The project, which involves the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and institutes and researchers from Thailand and Cambodia, is supported by the Australian government, centre Director Mr Phoumy Inthapanya told Vientiane Times yesterday.
Droughts and floods destroyed about 40,000 tonnes of paddy rice in each of the last five years, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
In the past five years Laos has lost 400 billion kip worth of rice due to natural disasters.
To remedy the situation, the government through the ministry has collaborated with international counterparts to study rice varieties that can be harvested in a shorter time, grown in variable weather conditions and are resistant to disease.
The project has already had success in developing seeds that are drought tolerant, such as the Thadokkham 9, 11, 12 and Phon-ngam 1 and 3 varieties, said Mr Phoumy.
These seed varieties have a short-term planting to harvesting period and have been tested in central and southern provinces, with good results in dry and sandy areas.
Farmers are also able to harvest these varieties between the end of September and the start of October, while other traditional seeds are harvested from mid-October to November after sowing in June, he said.
The period from the middle of October to November occurs in the dry season and rice production is at high risk of impacts from drought at this time.
“We will ensure that the centre soon researches seeds that are resistant to drought,” Mr Phoumy confirmed.
Rice seeds that can withstand minor flooding have already been used by farmers last wet season, after the centre successfully produced the seeds with partners following many years of research.
“This type of rice seed, called Thadokkham 1, is resistant to flooding and is a result of a mix between the Thadokkham 1 variety from Laos and a seed from India,” he said.
The seed can survive underwater for more than 20 days, while other seeds usually die after being immersed in water for one week.
The variety has been tested in different districts of Khammuan and Savannakhet provinces and farmers will continue to cultivate it next season, Mr Phoumy said.
Some agriculture officials in northern and southern provinces are requesting stocks of the seed for planting by farmers in the coming wet season.
The centre continues to cooperate with its partners to develop rice seed varieties that are even more tolerant of floods.
The ministry plans to supply the seeds to target farmers in seven large and 14 small areas in a bid to reduce the impact of weather extremes on rice production.
Laos is home to more than 14,000 different varieties of rice, the second most of any country in the world after India.
