Xayaboury rice destined for China
Xayaboury rice destined for China
Local people in remote areas of three districts of Xayaboury province plan to plant dry season rice on about 550 hectares of land, with the finished product destined for export to China next year.
Xayaboury Agriculture and Forestry Department is currently cooperating with the concerned officials and business people to carry out the paddy rice planting project for export to China.
The department Director Mr Somchit Chanthavong said recently that they wanted to grow as much paddy rice for China as possible next year.
He said the business sector would like to assist farmers by providing funding for the paddy rice planting project, which started in 2012.
The rice for export is being planted on 50 hectares in Xayaboury district, 200 hectares in Phiang district and 300 hectares in Xienghone district.
Currently, local farmers are spouting seeds and planting seedlings on their fields this month, while agriculture and forestry sector officials are making sure that all t he irrigation infrastructure is up to standard.
From the time of planting, it will take between three and four months before the crops are mature and ready for harvesting and processing.
Mr Somchit believes the provincial agriculture and forestry sector will be able to send a total of 2,000 tonnes of paddy rice to China after harvesting next year.
He said if the paddy rice planting project goes according to plan, the farmers, business investors and the agriculture and forestry sector will look to expand it to other districts in the future.
Last year, farmers in Xayaboury district were able to produce paddy rice on 50 hectares of land, which is the same amount targeted this year.
They were able to send more than 100 tonnes for sale on the Chinese market last year. One tonne of paddy rice is worth around three million kip.
In other fields, the provincial agriculture and forestry department is looking to promote the planting of small crops such as job's tears, cassava and corn as well as timber plantations such as teak.
Meanwhile another avenue for livelihood improvement is livestock and animal husbandry.
Last year, Xayaboury province was able to produce a final yield of 190,000 tonnes from its wet season rice crop, with rice surplus to local consumption on-sold to markets in other northern provinces.
vientiane times
