Rice losses causing harvest shortfall, minister tells NA

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Lien Thikeo reported the information to lawmakers at the 8th session of the National Assembly (NA)’s 8th legislature last week. He said widespread flooding combined with water supply problems had forced the ministry to downgrade the rice production forecast from 4.4 million to 3.5 million tonnes. Dr Lien pointed out that the 105,206 hectares of rice lost to flooding equated to 13 per cent of the total 770,279 hectares under cultivation across the country. The ministry expects to lose 456,500 tonnes of the anticipated rice harvest. Savannakhet was the worst affected province, suffering damage to 40,534 hectares of rice. Some areas also suffered from water shortages or were devastated by insect infestations which damaged 1,200 hectares of crops. Some 497 of the country’s irrigation systems have been severely affected this year with Saravan province hardest hit as 118 projects suffered flood damage.

However, the ministry will accelerate efforts to renovate irrigation schemes and encourage farmers to grow more rice in the dry season from November to April. The goal is to have 900,000 hectares under cultivation and to increase next rainy season’s yield. Authorities will assist farmers to increase yields and the country is aiming for exports worth US$1.2 billion next year. The ministry will utilise 352.9 billion kip of the government budget to contribute to 288 projects, especially the provision of rice seed and seeds for other crops, along with equipment, vaccines, and insecticides.

Environmental experts predict that climate change will bring increasingly severe drought and flood conditions to Laos, with crop yields possibly falling 10 per cent by 2020 and 30 per cent by 2050. This could further affect food security improvement measures, which the government is working on with its agencies and non- governmental organisations.

Information source: Vientiane Times.