Govt to increase rice production for export

Govt to increase rice production for export

The government plans to increase rice production for export after several years of surplus.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will try to encourage farmers in high potential areas to raise their rice production from 3-4 tonnes to 5-6 tonnes a hectare and, in some areas, even as high as seven tonnes.

The main factors that will allow for this increased production are the use of new rice varieties, soil improvement by regulating the use of composted and chemical fertilisers, better water management and new planting techniques such as the single rice seed method and dry-direct seeding using drum seeders.

The government is encouraging the move away from traditional labour-intensive planting methods to the new technology that requires minimal labour and low capital, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Mr Vilayvanh Phomkhe told local media. One important point, though, the farmers have to be diligent in taking care of the young rice plants under the new system, he said.

Increasing rice production should be focused on developing new growing areas such as Thapha- Nongphong in Hadxaifong district, Nam Houm and Nam Xouang in Naxaithing district in Vientiane, said Mr Vilayvanh.

Other potential rice production areas are Thabok and Mahaxay districts in Khammuan province as well as flatlands in Savannakhet and Champassak provinces.

Some local areas are limited by a lack of promotion of the new techniques while some farmers still respect the traditional methods.

To promote rice exports, the government will look for stable markets so that the sales price and growers profit is guaranteed.

The government will become more involved in promoting the entrepreneurs, producers and rice milling groups in each priority area to enhance the overall results.

The government will also promote domestic and foreign investment in the production of organic and chemical fertilisers and generate a competitive, commercial policy on necessary facilities such as low interest loans and electricity costs.

Laos is currently one of the rice growers in the Asean region, with rice being exported to Vietnam, Thailand, China and further afield averaging 200,000-300,000 tonnes per year.

Since 2000, Lao farmers have been able to produce enough rice to meet domestic demand, moving the focus of production of the staple food to export.

Laos currently produces an annual rice surplus of almost one million tonnes over total domestic demand.

There are still people in some rural areas, however, who have less than sufficient rice for their annual consumption as they have limited land for cultivation.

Lao rice production has been increasing significantly since the early 1990s. It was driven by area expansion and an increase in yields.

This year, the government plans to encourage farmers to produce about four million tonnes and increase that to 4.2 tonnes next year.

vientiane times